Certainly the
elders could not be mistrusted. Their constant ramblings about the
man called Jambali filled the air almost daily. They said he was a
man of immense wealth and wisdom. A man who freely dispensed both
to any who sought it.
Yet many had traveled
to the eastern mountains in search of this man, and all had returned
weeks later with nothing to show but callused feet. Was it all just
a wistful tale; a fantasy concocted to give the people of their desperately
poor village a reason to hope? This was the question that plagued
the five travelers as they bedded down for the night, their hearts
full of hope and their heads full of doubt.
The sun rose to
find only four travelers remaining; the fifth having let doubt win
over. His note by the ashes of the fire implored the four to push
on, but he had returned to the village, unable to pursue a journey
that held no promise.
And so the four
travelers hiked throughout the morning and reached the tree line of
the eastern slopes by mid-day. It was a welcome escape from the relentless
heat of the desert sun. They had not walked more than 100 yards beneath
the shade of the trees, when they happened across an old woman.
They told the
woman of their quest to find a man called Jambali, and asked if she
knew where to find him. She exclaimed that they were indeed fortunate,
for he was a nomad and was camped for the day just over the next rise.
She bid them caution however, as he was not fond of unannounced strangers
to his camp.
Thanking the old
woman, they hastily made their way to the rise and thereupon did devise
a plan. One of them would ascend the rise to investigate the layout
of the camp and then report back to the others. In this way they could
best decide upon a method of entering the camp.
They elected a
scout, and he ascended the rise while the others anxiously waited.
After a short time the scout returned looking forlorn and discouraged.
He announced to the others that he did not see the camp of a wealthy
man, rather was it the camp of a pauper. He spoke of a man dressed
in rags and a tent of simple design.
And then this
traveler did proclaim their journey a fool's adventure, and he marched
back into the desert with a heavy heart.
The remaining
three travelers were not so easily dissuaded. One was elected and
he ascended the rise to scout the camp. He shortly returned with a
puzzling report. Not only was this man without wealth, but he was
also crazy. He told of a man standing in front of his tent waving
his arms wildly in the air, screaming obscenities at an unseen demon.
And as before,
this traveler also proclaimed their journey a fool's adventure, and
marched back into the desert… with a perplexed heart.
The remaining
two travelers had not come this far to give up so easily. One of the
pair ascended the rise, only to quickly return shaking with fear.
He exclaimed that the man was indeed acting crazy, but not because
of an unseen demon, rather because there was a tiger crouched in the
trees ready to devour the man.
This traveler
hastily declared their journey a fool's adventure, and hurried back
into the desert… with a fearful heart.
The last traveler
began his ascent. He reached the top and peered into the camp. He
too witnessed a tiger of great ferocity, but he put his fear aside
and decided to help the man defeat the beast.
He quickly fashioned
a makeshift spear using a dry branch sharpened with his hunting knife.
He ran down the hill and jumped between the man and the snarling tiger.
He readied his weapon and was on the verge of thrusting it into the
beast, when the man suddenly let out a shrill whistle and grabbed
the spear from the traveler's hands. The tiger abruptly ceased its
attack, then trotted over to stand next to the man. Obviously, a cruel
trick had been played upon the traveler.
Distraught over
what had just transpired, the traveler demanded an explanation. The
man explained that the old woman had seen the four travelers approaching
from the desert, and had warned him of their arrival. He explained
that his antics were designed to invite only the most sturdy of heart
into his camp.
The man went on
to introduce himself as Jambali the Wealth-Giver. He invited the traveler
to sit beside him and tell of his journey. The traveler did so, explaining
that the trip had began with five, of which he was the only one remaining.
He went on to tell Jambali about his people's belief that all who
visited him would receive wealth and wisdom.
Jambali told the
traveler that his people's belief was true, but that before wealth
can be possessed, one must first have the wisdom to own it.
Jambali explained,
"The first traveler gave up on the first night. He did not want
to work at acquiring wealth."
"The second traveler saw a poor man's camp. He had not the vision
to perceive wealth among ordinary things."
"The third traveler witnessed a crazy man. He had not the vision
to perceive wealth among non-ordinary things."
"The fourth traveler witnessed a man-eating tiger. He was not
ready for wealth because he had not the courage to overcome fear."
Jambali watched
as the traveler digested these words.
They were powerful words that sank deep into the traveler's heart.
Then, suddenly
and without notice, the traveler rose to his feet and thanked Jambali
for these wealth-giving secrets. He was overwhelmed with exhilaration
at the wisdom he had just received, and could barely contain his desire
to depart for the village with news of his good fortune on this journey.
He quickly bade Jambali farewell and promised he would tell his people
what he had learned.
And so, this traveler
did declare the journey a success, and he trotted into the desert
with a glad heart.
As the traveler
disappeared from sight, Jambali strode into his tent and filled a
ruby-rimmed cup to overflowing with a dark, red wine. He drank largely,
allowing the warm liquid to both caress and exhilarate his senses.
A drop escaped from the corner of his mouth and momentarily danced
upon his chin, as if unsure of which direction to fall before relinquishing
its hold to the ground below.
Jambali tossed
the cup, gestured loudly to the barren desert which had swallowed
the travelers, and dispensed his last bit of wisdom, "And the
fifth traveler was ready to receive wealth,
yet received none, because he did not ask for it."
