Ask a naisylph and he will expound, in the precise language of universities and debate halls, on the two scholars crossing the mountain…
Consider two scholars, who travel on a mountain road from their home to their place of work. They are familiar with the terrain immediately around the road, but the majority of the mountain is unknown to them. One day as they travel they detour for water along a small channel they have not followed before. At the end of the channel, they come across a bright glade of blue flowers.
“Let us stay here,” the Naemen scholar says. “The flowers are beautiful, and their scent serene. There is clean water here, and soft grass, and the gap in the trees gives a beautiful view of the mountains beyond.”
“Let us hurry along,” the Alveran scholar says. “There is no profit to be had here. Our path and livelihood awaits across the mountain. We must reach it so that we will be enriched.”
Both have valid cases to make. The Alveran is correct that they must reach their destination to fulfill their purpose that day. The Naemen is correct that they would be happy in the glade, and that they did not need the entire day to travel. In the end, a compromise is most appropriate. The scholars should stay in the glade for whatever period they might spend and still reach their destination in time. They accomplish both the goals of the heart and mind, finding the best way between the two.
And the naisylph will tell you that the story’s lesson is balance.
Consider two scholars, who travel on a mountain road from their home to their place of work. They are familiar with the terrain immediately around the road, but the majority of the mountain is unknown to them. One day as they travel they detour for water along a small channel they have not followed before. At the end of the channel, they come across a bright glade of blue flowers.
“Let us stay here,” the Naemen scholar says. “The flowers are beautiful, and their scent serene. There is clean water here, and soft grass, and the gap in the trees gives a beautiful view of the mountains beyond.”
“Let us hurry along,” the Alveran scholar says. “There is no profit to be had here. Our path and livelihood awaits across the mountain. We must reach it so that we will be enriched.”
Both have valid cases to make. The Alveran is correct that they must reach their destination to fulfill their purpose that day. The Naemen is correct that they would be happy in the glade, and that they did not need the entire day to travel. In the end, a compromise is most appropriate. The scholars should stay in the glade for whatever period they might spend and still reach their destination in time. They accomplish both the goals of the heart and mind, finding the best way between the two.
And the naisylph will tell you that the story’s lesson is balance.