In the golden haze of a late afternoon, a man found himself locked in a silent battle of wills with a stubborn cow. The rope tethered to the cow strained under his grasp as he struggled to coax her homeward, but the bovine refused to budge, her determination unwavering.
Amidst this spectacle, a sage observed with amusement, his laughter ringing through the air like tinkling bells. Startled, the man turned to the sage, his frustration evident. "Why do you find mirth in my plight?" he demanded, his voice tinged with irritation.
With a serene smile, the sage replied, "My friend, I do not laugh at you but at the realization that dawned upon me." He gestured to the bag nestled at his side, a silent witness to their exchange. "I pondered, am I the master of this bag, or is it the master of me?"
Perplexed, the man scoffed at the sage's musings. "What folly is this? Of course, you are the owner of your belongings, just as I am the owner of this cow."
But the sage shook his head gently, his eyes twinkling with wisdom. "Nay, dear brother. The bag is my master, and I its humble servant. It sustains me, while I, in turn, am dependent upon it. Similarly, your ownership of the cow may not be as straightforward as it seems."
Intrigued, the man listened as the sage continued. "Release the tether of the cow, and witness the truth unfold. Who follows whom will unveil the true master."
With a mixture of skepticism and curiosity, the man complied, loosening his grip on the rope. And in that moment of liberation, the roles reversed—the cow, unshackled, ambled homeward, her silent strides a testament to her newfound freedom.
As the cow disappeared into the horizon, the sage bid the man farewell with a gentle admonition. "Remember, my friend, true ownership lies not in possession, but in liberation. Shed the ropes that bind you, and embrace the freedom of relinquishment."
With these words echoing in his heart, the man watched the sage depart, a seed of enlightenment planted within his soul.
And so, amidst the tranquil fields, the man pondered the profound lesson of the cow and the bag—a reminder that in the grand tapestry of existence, true ownership transcends material possessions, rooted instead in the liberation of the spirit.