Pursue not that which thy heart desires, for the pampering of the body destroys the fires of life.
The gluttonous man bears the weight of his corpulence; if he obtain not food, he bears the weight of grief. It is better that the stomach should be empty than the mind.
Story of a Glutton
In company with some religious mendicants I entered a date-grove in Busra. One of the party was a glutton. He, having girt his loins, climbed up a tree, and, falling headlong, died.
The headsman of the village asked, “Who killed this man?”
“Go softly, friend,” I answered; “he fell from a branch—’twas the weight of his stomach.”
Story of a Recluse
The Amir of Tartary presented a silken robe to an elderly recluse, who, putting it on, kissed the hand of the messenger, and said: “A thousand praises to the king! Excellent is this splendid robe, but I prefer my own patched habit.”
If thou hast relinquished the world, sleep upon the bare ground—kiss it not before any one for the sake of a costly carpet.