All We Need Is.....

A Russian peasant named Pahom owned a small piece of land and was leading a contented life. He was, however, roused to higher ambitions because his brother in law was a bigger and more prosperous landlord. Accordingly, he economized and saved as much as possible in the hope of becoming a landlord.

After he had collected some money, Pahom went out in search of land, and came to the territory of the Bashkirs, who were a race of nomads. They did not till the soil and so the land was very cheap there. Their chief accepted some presents and agreed to give Pahom as much land as he could cover on foot, provided he returned to the starting point before sunset.

Pahom jumped at the offer. The next morning the whole village assembled to witness the race. The farmer started off at a fast pace, eager to cover as large
an area of land as possible.

He went on and on as the sun rose to its height and did not stop for water to quench his thirst or for food to satisfy his hunger. He chose to run around a very large circle and the crowd of Bashkirs who were watching him wondered whether he would be able to complete the circle before sunset.

Goaded by ambition and greed, he defied the heat of the day and the fatigue of his body. He ran on and on until, just when the sun was about to set, and amid thundering applause, he reached the starting point. Then he stopped and collapsed on the ground.

Before the crowd knew what had happened, he was dead. They prepared for the funeral and buried him, and found that all the land he needed was only six feet from head to toe.

Pahom's story is an allegory of the modern age of materialism.

Acquiring and hoarding is its creed. All our Time and Energy are spent in a Mad Race for the Treasures of the World, its Empty Honors and its Transient Glory.

With folded fists we came into this world bringing with us our Destiny. Upon death we leave this world alone and empty handed.