The Wise Merchant
ONCE THERE WAS A PROSPEROUS MERCHANT who
did not
mind traveling long distances in order to deliver his merchandise to faithful
buyers. Robbers got a wind of this and soon were trying to capture his carts
loaded with fine and expensive goods. The merchant, however, was a clever man
and each time succeeded in thwarting their plans.
On one of his journeys, the merchant learned that some monks were going
to be traveling in the same direction, so he invited them to accompany him and
promised to look after their every need along the way. No one was aware at the
time, however, that some robbers had already heard of the merchant’s trip and
planned to ambush his caravan as it passed through a
certain forest.
The wise merchant, in the meantime, made wary by past experiences,
suspected something was amiss as they approached the forest. So instead of
entering it, he decided to set up camp just outside its edge and stay
there for a few days. Later, when he learned what the robbers were up
to, he decided that for the safety of his traveling companions and his goods, it would be best to abort
the trip and return home.
When news
of this reached the ears of the robbers, they went and lay in wait for the
merchant on the road back to the city. But the wise merchant also had his own
scouts who came back
and warned him of the robbers’ strategy The merchant then decided to stay in a
village where he had good friends and not budge for a few more days.
Upon
hearing about the merchant’s new plan, the monks decided to cut short their
trip and return to their monastery When they arrived there, they told the
Buddha how their trip was complicated by robbers who aimed at looting the
merchant’s caravan and how the wise merchant outsmarted them each time.
The Buddha
replied by telling them that the merchant was a wise man, for he evaded a
journey beset with robbers like someone who did not want to die evaded poison.
In the same way, the Buddha taught, a wise person who realizes that existence
is like a journey beset with dangers. does his best to keep away from doing
evil.
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