"The sharp knife of a short life

I've had just enough time..."


- "If I Die Young" The Band Perry


I see Beauty in many things. And like the ghosts that only speak to you if you notice them, they tell me wondrous tales. With my camera and my thoughts, I captured these as faithfully as I can to share with you. And by doing so, they gave me the reasons. And though the thousand reasons may not all be sweet and some indeed bitter; they are still reasons to live. Come to think about it, that is Life, isn't it?

Wednesday 13 March 2013

What The Old Man Said to The God of Prosperity.



I've had just enough time...   to say no to the God of Prosperity

Taken from the hotel lobby of Jesselton Hotel in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah.


The God of Prosperity approached the old man with the slumped shoulder walking in the street. “Pray to me and I will bestow you riches untold!”

The old man lifted his weary head and looked at the God of Prosperity. A hint of a smile curled up his lips, looked to the ground again and continued on his way.

The God of Prosperity let him walked pass and waited, confident he will turn back for who can refuse free gold. But when it appeared that the old man’s intention is only to continue on his way; the God of Prosperity ran after him; his oversized stomach bouncing up and down as he caught up. How undignified for a God to be running after a man, he thought angrily. Through panted breath, he exclaimed “Are you short of hearing? I offered you Gold! Real gold for free!”

The old man replied patiently, “Leo Tolstoy said - Truth, like gold, is to be obtained not by its growth, but by washing away from it all that is not gold.”

The old man continued, “I say - Gold, like Truth, cannot be obtained if you do not dig deep enough. Real gold cannot be recognized by its glitters for eyes are easily seduced. And once you are, you will sell your soul. I will tell Mr. Tolstoy one has to wash away the glitters too.” With that he gave another smile and a respectful bow and shuffled on his way.

The God of Prosperity was dumb struck. He recovered enough to ask “Have we met before?”

The old man replied without turning, “Yes, you were the one who sold me the false gold.”



5 comments:


  1. A 1000 Reasons (busy... slow)
    I was staying in the Jesselton Hotel, the oldest and most interesting hotel in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah. I love old hotels with a lot of history and this is the only hotel you should stay in your first trip to get a feel of old days hospitality. During the weekend, the street in front of the hotel is converted into a street market where you can get all kinds of strange and exotic stuff from "coffin fruit" (white, milky smooth and sweet), orchids, fighting fishes in plastic bags and albino python. You can buy souvenirs to sunglasses to pots and pans. You can try all kinds of interesting foods and snacks like sago biscuits. And you can get massage from blind masseur watched by passer-bys or donate blood. It is a unique mixture of everything! From the lobby of Jesselton hotel before I ventured out into the street, I took this shot of one of the Chinese God and an old man walking by and this story comes to me.

    vignettes_IND
    The hustle bustle of street life has been captured really well...men may come and men may go, but life goes on forever! :)

    Sunciti _ Sundaram's Images + Messages
    This Is A Beautifully Perfect Image And Imagination Un Limited
    Well done & Thank You ..Dear Friend

    ineedathis
    Lovely street scene my friend! as of the gold I want some:-)

    ★ineedathis and i_still_believe_in_u added this photo to their favorites.

    -Josh Birchall-
    great street capture

    henrhyde (gill)
    Beautiful , well presented image --- beautiful story

    sethph88
    great caption, excellent

    ★ΞSSΞ®®Ξ added this photo to his favorites.

    The Visual Poet
    Excellent capture!

    ★oola * added this photo to her favorites.

    ReplyDelete

  2. oola *
    gold
    joy
    peace
    comfort
    so many things wear masks

    ho.ge
    a very wise old man! beautiful story and shot!
    ★ho.ge added this photo to her favorites.

    Cheri Sundra: Guerrilla Historian
    Interesting!

    ReplyDelete

  3. ★Pagan Eyes added this photo to his favorites.

    This photo was invited and added to the PANEM ET CIRCENSES / BREAD AND CIRCUSES-P1/C1 group.

    ★julien. H and october blue added this photo to their favorites.

    october blue
    Excellent photo and writing ! I like very much the quotes form Tolstoy and The Old Man ( I hope the God of Prosperity was listening with both ears ...he might have learned something of value . I also liked the thoughts from A 1000 Reasons ( I also love old hotels with a lot of history) . I googled 'Jesselton Hotel" ...and within 3 seconds there I was, standing in the lobby in faraway Sabah ....new technology does have its amazing merits :-) ( But nothing matches an old hotel for the ambiance of echoes from the past ) .
    Thanks for sharing ....wishing you a happy weekend :-)

    ShambLady has i-net trouble will catch up tomorrow
    ahhhhthatssweet tale! wish you a wonderful weekend!!!
    and saving the hotel tip!
    --

    ReplyDelete

  4. ★Steve Taylor (Photography) added this photo to his favorites.
    That looks interesting

    娜 娜☂Nana_Slowly catching up
    I think you like to think as big boys ...
    Just a picture, enough for you to wanted to express many ways its.
    只是一个图片,足以让你想表达的许多方面。

    ReplyDelete
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