Demons in the Desert

The Correct Way of Thinking

Long, long ago, there were two friends who were merchants They were about to go on a trip to sell their merchandise. After discussion, they decided not to travel together. "It will be too crowded for us to travel together since each of us has about 500 carts, and both of us are going to the same place along the same road," said one to the other. So both agreed one of them should set off first.

The first merchant thought long and hard and decided to go first. "The road will not be rutted by the carts. The bullocks will be able to enjoy the greenest and best grass along the way, and we will find the best fruits and vegetables to eat. My people will appreciate my leadership and, in the end, I will be able to bargain for the best prices," he thought smilingly.

The second merchant, too, considered carefully. He realised there were advantages of travelling after the first had paved the way. "By travelling first, my friend's carts will have levelled the ground so we won't have to do any road work. His bullocks will have also eaten the old rough grass and new tender shoots will spring up for mine to feast. Similarly, his people will also have plucked the old fruits and vegetables and fresh ones will grow for us to enjoy. I won't have to waste my time bargaining when I can take the price already set by the market and make my profit," he thought. And so he agreed to his friend's request of travelling first. The first merchant, sure that he'd fooled his friend and gotten the best of him, merrily set out first on the journey.

But he had a troublesome time. The merchant who went first soon came to a wilderness called the "Waterless Desert", which the local people said was haunted by demons. When the caravan reached the middle of the desert, they met a large group coming from the opposite direction. They had carts that were smeared with mud and dripping with water. They also had lotuses and water lilies in their hands and carts. "Why are you carrying these heavy loads of water? In a short while, you will reach an oasis on the horizon with plenty of water to drink and dates to eat. Your bullocks are tired from pulling those heavy carts filled with extra water. Be kind to your poor, overworked animals and throw away the water!" said the headman of the group, who displayed a know-it-all attitude, to the merchant.

Even though the natives had warned him, the merchant did not realise these were really demons in disguise, and that they were in danger of being devoured by them. Confident they were helpful people, he followed their advice and had all his water emptied onto the ground.

As they continued on their way, they discovered there was no oasis on the desert. Some then realised they'd been fooled by beings who could be demons, and started to grumble and accuse the merchant. At the end of the day, all the people were worn out and exhausted. The bullocks were also too weak from lack of water to pull their heavy carts. Tired out, both humans and animals lay down in a haphazard manner and fell into a deep slumber. At dusk, the demons came in their true frightening forms and gobbled up all the weak, defenceless beings, leaving behind only bones on the ground. Not one human or animal was spared alive.

Several months later, the second merchant began his journey. When he arrived at the wilderness, he assembled all his people and said: "This place is called the 'Waterless Desert' which I heard is haunted by demons and ghosts. Therefore, do be careful at all times. Do not drink any water in the desert without asking me first." Having said that, his caravan ventured into the desert.

Like the first merchant, the second merchant and his caravan encountered the water-soaked demons in disguise halfway through the desert. The demons pulled the same trick and told them to cast away their water. Fortunately, the wise merchant saw through the demons straight away. He knew it didn't make sense to have an oasis in a place known as the "Waterless Desert". And besides these people had bulging red eyes and a pushy attitude, so he suspected they could be demons. "We are businessmen who don't throw away good water before we know where the next is coming from," the merchant replied and the told the demons to leave them alone.

Seeing that his own people had doubts when the demons left, the merchant said: "Don't believe what others said until we actually find water. For all we know, they may be demons, and the oasis they point to is just an illusion or a mirage. Have you ever heard of water in this "Waterless Desert"? Have you felt any rain-wind or seen any storm clouds?" They all answered "No" and he continued: "If we believe these strangers and throw our water away, we may not have any to drink or to cook with if there is no oasis. We will be weak and thirsty. It will be easy then for the demons to come and rob us, or even gobble us up! Therefore, until we really find water, do not waste even a single drop! It is better for us to be safe than sorry."

That evening, the second caravan travelled until it reached where the first have been slaughtered and devoured. They saw fully loaded carts and bones strewn everywhere. They recognised the fully loaded carts belonging to the caravan of the first merchant.Come dusk, the wise merchant appointed some as watch guards to protect the camp during the night.

The next morning, after the people had taken their breakfast and fed their bullocks well, they added to their carts the most valuable goods left behind from the first caravan. Under the wise leadership of the second merchant, the caravan managed to complete their journey successfully. They sold all the merchandise with profits and return home safely.

The moral is: One must always be wise enough not to be fooled by tricky talk and false appearances.
The Bodhisattva: The wise merchant