A sorrowful tea merchant approached a wise man to ask, 'Why do I
have so many irritations and so much nervousness?'
Replied the wise man, 'Observe the ways of your mind for the next
two weeks, then return with your question.'
Two weeks later the merchant returned. The wise man invited, 'I
will now hear your question.'
The merchant asked, 'Why does one day after another contain nothing
but old troubles in new forms?'
The wise man told him, 'Observe the ways of your mind for the next
four weeks, then come to me again.'
When the merchant returned four weeks later, the wise man nodded
and said, 'You may now repeat your question.'
'There is no need for it,' said the merchant. 'I know.'"
The Power of Esoterics, p. 57
