A number of years ago, Malik Mirza, posted the following story on the website, Wisdom From Books.
There was a father who left 17 camels as an asset for his three sons. When the father passed away, his sons opened up the will.
Will of the father stated that the eldest son should get half of 17 camels while the middle son should be given 1/3rd (one-third). The youngest son should be given 1/9th (one-ninth) of the 17 camels.
As it is not possible to divide 17 into half or 17 by 3 or 17 by 9, three sons started to fight with each other. How can they divide their father’s inheritance? . . ..
So, three sons decided to go to a wise [person\.
The wise [person] listened patiently about the whole matter i.e. dividing 17 camels as follows:
½ to the eldest son, 1/3rd to the middle son and 1//9th to the youngest – How is it possible?
So, the wise [person], after giving this thought, brought one camel of [their] own and added the same to 17. That increased the total to 18 camels.
Now, [they] started reading the deceased father’s will.
Half of 18 = 9. So [they] gave the eldest son 9 camels
1/3rd of 18 = 6. So [they] gave the middle son 6 camels
1/9th of 18 = 2. So [they] gave the youngest son 2 camels.
Now add this up: 9 plus 6 plus 2 is 17 and this leaves one camel, which the wise [person] took away.
This story awakens us to a way of listening that asks us to dwell deeply with others and the problems and issues they face, and it reminds us that we also bring something of our own to these encounters.
Sometimes, it’s like the poem by John Fox,
When someone deeply listens to you it is like holding out a dented cup
you’ve had since childhood
and watching it fill up with
cold, fresh water.
When it balances on top of the brim,
you are understood.
When it overflows and touches your skin,
you are loved.
Other times, it requires that we listen and discover that beyond hearing, we can offer resources, perspectives, and ways of being that are the genesis of loving-kindness and wisdom. Which begs the question here, “What is your 18th camel?”
As we head into the final weeks of what has been a rancorous election season, this insight looms large for me. Deep listening, which is our Soul Matters Theme for the month of October, asks of us to go beyond the words, to the experiences that they reflect, if often palely. Once in that place, we discover ways of addressing our deepest longing and most fervent hopes.
Remember the words of the Sufi poet, Jalaludin Rumi, from a verse in his poem, “A Great Wagon”.
Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing,
there is a field. I’ll meet you there.
When the soul lies down in that grass,
the world is too full to talk about.
Ideas, language, even the phrase “each other”
doesn’t make any sense.
The breeze at dawn has secrets to tell you.
Don’t go back to sleep.
You must ask for what you really want.
Don’t go back to sleep.
People are going back and forth across the doorsill
where the two worlds touch.
The door is round and open.
Don’t go back to sleep.
Blessings,
Aaron