“If only I was rich.”

Multatuli a Dutch renowned writer tells the story of a Japanese sculptor in his book Max Havelaar:


Day after day the poor sculptor chips stones out of the rock and sighs: “If only I was rich.” A mountain spirit heard him and granted his wish. The sculptor enjoys his newly state of being rich for a little while, but when the emperor passes by he becomes jealous and wishes to be the emperor. Again this happens and he is satisfied. But when he realizes the sun is far more powerful then the emperor, because it burns merciless on everyone, he wants to be the sun!


Immediately he transforms into the sun only to realize that the cloud is more powerful, because it can darken out the sun. He becomes a cloud and pours rain with enthusiasm, until he notices this rock. This rock stands firmly no matter how hard and wildly he sweeps the rain against its side. When he wants to be the rock he becomes the rock. Again his satisfaction holds only for a little while. Suddenly he feels how someone is hammering against its side, trying to chip stones out of the rock. That man is more powerful than him...he wants to be that sculptor!


This way he returns to the simplicity of the beginning, with only one, but very important difference: Now he IS happy with his fate. He has lived the great web of creation from within and realizes there is nothing wrong with his part in it. He has experiences how every place in universe has its own power as well as its impotence. That he can be happy and content everywhere, anytime, it doesn’t really matter where he is. With spiritual wealth he returns to a life of simplicity.