The Harmonious Contradiction

There was once a man who lived in a city. He was a successful businessman and a respected leader. He had a lot of wealth and power, and he was admired by many people. He had everything he wanted and needed, and he was happy.

One day, a woman came to the city. She was a wandering musician and a humble seeker. She had nothing but her instrument and her faith, and she was shunned by many people. She had nothing she wanted or needed, and she was happy.

The man heard the woman playing her music in the street, and he was captivated by her sound and her spirit. He approached her and said, “Greetings, woman. I have heard your music, and I am impressed by your talent and your joy. Tell me, what is the secret of your happiness?”

The woman smiled and said, “The secret of my happiness is to be content with what I have and to share it with others.”

The man said, “That is a very noble and generous answer. But how can you be content with what you have when you have nothing? How can you share it with others when they reject you?”

The woman said, “I have nothing because I need nothing. I need nothing because I have everything. I have everything because I am everything. I am everything because I am nothing. I share it with others because they are me. They are me because they are not me.”

The man said, “That is a very paradoxical and confusing answer. How can you have nothing and everything at the same time? How can you be everything and nothing at the same time? How can others be you and not you at the same time?”

The woman said, “I have nothing and everything at the same time because nothing and everything are the same. I am everything and nothing at the same time because everything and nothing are me. Others are me and not me at the same time because me and not me are others.”

The man was amazed and intrigued.