The Beggar

Ik Oankaar Satnaam

A dervish was praying silently. A wealthy merchant, observing the
dervish's devotion and sincerity, was deeply touched by him. The
merchant offered the dervish a bag of gold. "I know that you will
use the money for God's sake. Please take it."
"Just a moment." the dervish replied. "I'm not sure if it is
lawful for me to take your money. Are you a wealthy man? Do you
have more money at home?"
"Oh yes. I have at least one thousand gold pieces at home."
claimed the merchant proudly.
"Do you want a thousand gold pieces more?" asked the dervish.
"Why of course. Every day I work hard to earn more money."
"And do you wish for yet another thousand gold pieces more
beyond that?"
"Certainly. Every day I pray that I may earn more and more
money."
The dervish pushed the bag of gold back to the merchant. "I am
sorry, but I cannot take your gold," he said. "A wealthy man cannot
take money from a beggar."
"How can you call yourself wealthy and me a beggar?" the
merchant spluttered.
The dervish replied, "I am a wealthy man because I am content
with whatever God sends me. You are a beggar because no matter how
much you possess, you are always dissatisfied, and always begging God
for more."

Sheikh Muzaffer
as collected by James Fadiman & Roger Frager