The sons were nonplussed. Seventeen camels: one half is to go to the first son – is one to cut one camel in two? And that too won’t solve much because then one-third has to go to the second. That too won’t solve much: one- ninth has to go to the third. So, all the camels would be killed.
Of course, they went to the man of the town who was most knowledgeable in mathematics. He couldn’t find a solution.
The sons were not ready to cut the camels…. Then they went to the sheikh who was an old man, uneducated but wise through experience. The old man laughed. He said, ‘Don’t be worried. It is simple.’ He loaned one of his camels to them. Now there were 18 camels, and then he divided. Nine camels were given to the first and he was satisfied. Six camels were given to the second, one-third; he was also satisfied. And two camels were given to the third, one-ninth; he was also satisfied. One camel was left. That was loaned. He took his camel back.
Life is not like a superhighway, with fixed rules and defined paths. Life is wild. In fact, no path exists; you walk and you create your own path.
Abridged from Life’s Parables, courtesy: Osho International Foundation, www.osho.com
