282nd story

A wealthy merchant had planted many different trees, plants, and flowers in the courtyard of his palace, creating a beautiful garden.

Every day, his greatest joy and pastime was walking through the garden and enjoying its beauty.

One day, he went on a journey. Upon his return, the first thing he did was go to see his beloved garden. But when he entered, he froze in shock.

All the trees and plants were withering.

He turned to the poplar tree, which had once been lush and green, and asked what had happened.

The tree replied:

“I looked at the apple tree and thought, I can never bear such beautiful fruit. That thought made me so sad that I began to wither.”

The merchant went to the apple tree, but it too was dry and weak. He asked the reason.

The apple tree answered:

“When I looked at the rose and smelled its fragrance, I thought, I will never have such a sweet scent. That thought disheartened me, and I began to wither.”

He then turned to a rose bush, which was also dried up. When asked why, it replied:

“I envied the maple tree, because in autumn I cannot bloom like it. I sighed in despair, and as soon as that thought came to me, I too began to wither.”

As the merchant continued walking, he noticed a very beautiful flower blooming in a corner of the garden. He asked it why it was still so fresh and lively.

The flower replied:

“At first, I too began to dry out, because I thought I could never have the greatness of the poplar, which remains green all year, nor the fragrance of the rose.

But then I said to myself: If this wealthy, powerful, and wise merchant, who has created such a beautiful garden, had wanted something else to grow in my place, surely he would have done so. Since he chose to plant me, it means he wanted me to exist.

From that moment on, I decided to become the most beautiful being I could be.”

The world is vast enough for all creatures to have their place. Instead of trying to take someone else’s place, we should strive to find our own true place.