A parable of Gem & Soup

Both beauty and nourishment hold great value, but they thrive best when allowed to exist in their own realms.

In a quaint village nestled between a valley and hills, there lived an artistic innovator named Pali. She was renowned for her exquisite pottery, but more than that, she was known for her wisdom and keen understanding of balance.

One day, while walking through the market, Pali discovered a beautiful gem—a deep blue sapphire that shimmered with an inner light. She was mesmerized by its beauty and knew it could fetch a high price. But as she held the gem, she also noticed a humble vendor selling a steaming bucket of soup, rich with vegetables and spices, nourishing the body and spirit.

Pali is an insightful thinker, she ponders about the value of great things: Both the gem and the soup are precious; The gem delights me so much and is invaluable; the soup is my favorite, making me healthier. But if I blend the gem as an ingredient into the soup, that's screwed up, isn't it. Things have different values and qualities; sometimes, they can be mixed up, but sometimes they cannot. That's the world of differences. 

Then, Pali as an artist, pondered again, "How wonderful it would be to combine the beauty of the gem with the warmth of the soup! I could create a stunning pot that symbolizes both."

Inspired, she invited the vendor to her workshop. "Let's create something extraordinary," she said, envisioning a pot that would hold the soup and showcase the gem. The vendor agreed, intrigued by the idea.

As they worked together, Pali shaped the clay into a beautiful pot, carefully placing the sapphire at the base. But when she poured the steaming soup into the pot, the gem began to lose its luster. The vibrant colors of the soup blended with the sapphire's brilliance, creating a murky mixture instead of the radiant beauty she had imagined.

Frustrated, Pali exclaimed, "The gem and the soup are both precious, yet they cannot coexist in this way! Each has its own value, but together, they lose their essence."

The vendor nodded in understanding. "You are right. The soup nourishes the body, and the gem represents beauty and wealth. They are both valuable, yet they serve different purposes."

Realizing the truth, Pali carefully removed the gem and placed it on a shelf where it could shine on its own. She then filled the pot with the soup, allowing it to radiate warmth and comfort.

Moral of the Story: Both beauty and nourishment hold great value, but they thrive best when allowed to exist in their own realms. Sometimes, the most meaningful things in life cannot be mixed, for each has its own unique purpose.

Posted in: Parable