Once upon a time, there lived a very old and grumpy hermit. He lived by himself in a cave high up in the mountains and ate nothing but bread and butter. He did not like visitors, and all who came near his cave were soon frightened off. He had no friends, no one he cared for, and no one who cared for him. In this way the hermit lived for many years, his life was without love, peace, and joy.
     One day three travelers passed over the hermit’s mountain on their way home, and one of the travelers had his youngest son with him. However, no sooner had they began to climb into the mountains than they found themselves caught in a heavy snowstorm. Deciding to press on they steadily climbed higher into the mountain until they finally lost the path. After wandering for several hours with hope nearly gone, one of the travelers spotted a light. Heading toward the light the travelers found the old hermit hunched over a small fire in his cave. Although the old man felt nothing but anger at his unwelcome guests he felt obliged to give them a refuge from the bitter cold. The travelers had heard the hermit’s story when they passed through the village and after spending several hours in the cave each traveler posed a question to the old man. The first traveler asked why the hermit hated all men, the second traveler wanted to know why the old man had no wife, and the third traveler wondered why the hermit was so grumpy. The old hermit waited until all three questions had been asked and then grudgingly answered them. “As to your first question”, he told the men, “I have determined that there is evil in all men and so I have found it necessary to separate myself from the rest of the world.” As to your second question, I find the differences between men and women to be so extreme that it cannot be right for the two to exist as partners. And in answer to the third question, throughout my life I have found no joy and that is why I am not happy.” The three travelers deemed these answers very wise and after the storm had subsided they went on their way, not wanting to stay with the old man any more than was absolutely necessary. The young boy however, who had merely listened to the men’s talk could find no truth in what the hermit had said and pondered the answers for many nights afterward.
     Years passed and the young boy grew older, he gained both knowledge and wisdom from the world around him. He became a trader and travelled from one vast land to another selling his goods. Not long after becoming a trader, he found a pretty young lady, and marrying her, he settled down by a river where he opened a small store that sold hunting and fishing supplies to travelers passing by. Now a man, he lived a quiet and happy life with his family by the river.
     One day, a customer mentioned the old hermit from the mountains, and the trader, though surprised that the almost forgotten hermit was still living decided to make a trip to see the old man. Bidding his family farewell for a time, the trader journeyed to the mountain where he had met the grumpy old man for the first time. While climbing the mountain the trader noted that the day was fair and pleasant, unlike the stormy winter night so long ago. Finally reaching the hermit’s cave, the trader found the old man near death with nothing but a dish of bread and butter sitting on his table. Approaching the hermit’s mat, the trader found that the old man had ceased to speak. The trader sat by the dying man’s side and began to speak; “Good sir, I wish I had known sooner the knowledge that I know now. I wish that you could talk and tell me that you have found what I have. I must tell you what I know that you may at least be content at the last of your life. So then, let me say this, if there is evil in all men, than you cannot escape that evil for it dwells also in you; that is the answer to the first question. In answer to the second answer my friend, look at your humble bread and butter. The butter was made from the milk from a goat and is creamy and golden. The bread was made from the gatherings from a wheat field and is hard and stale. Despite all this they each seemed to have been made for the other. So it is with the man and the woman, that despite their differences they were made for each other. For the third question I will say this. One can find no joy if he looks for joy in the things of life, to receive joy one must realize that life is joy, and by living his life with his knowledge he will find joy even in the things of life. This is what I have learned my friend, and by living accordingly I have found great joy.” The hermit did nothing for quite some time and the trader fearing him dead put his hand upon the old man’s chest to find a heartbeat. Then the old man gave a long sigh, it seemed of both resignation and sadness and breathed his last. The trader finally left to inform the townspeople below of the old man’s death, but upon leaving he paused to look back at the old man, then turning he left with his heart heavy for the hermit’s death, but his head high because he had found what the old man hadn’t, the joy of life.
The End