# 28 Looking for Diamonds

Here is the story of the man who sought diamonds. Near the Indus River lived a farmer. He had rich lands. He owned orchards, grain fields, and gardens. He was a happy, wealthy man. One day this farmer was visited by an old monk. The monk sat by the fire. He told the farmer how the world was formed. He told how granite was made. He ended by saying, "The diamond is the most precious of all substances. It is a congealed drop of sunlight."

The farmer, Ali Hafed, was spellbound. Then the old monk said this. "If you have a handful of diamonds you can buy a whole country." To emphasize the value, he said more. He said that with a diamond mine Ali Hafed could make his children into rulers.

Ali Hafed could not get the thought of diamonds out of his mind. He kept thinking, "I want a mine of diamonds." The next morning he went to the monk's house. He asked, "Where can I find diamonds?" The monk said, "First find a river. It must run over white sands. The river must be between high mountains. In the white sands, you'll find diamonds."

Ali Hafed sold his farm. He put his money in a bank. He left his family in the care of friends. He went in search of diamonds. He roamed and roamed. He followed stories. Finally he was footsore and weary. Years had passed. His strength was gone. Finally all his wealth was gone too. He stood at the shore of a great sea. A great wave came rolling in. He threw his weary body into it. He sank beneath the wave. He was discouraged and old. His family was far away. He died a sad and weary pauper.

# 28 尋找鑽石

這是一個尋找鑽石的人的故事。印度河附近住著一個農夫。他擁有肥沃的土地。他擁有果園、穀田和花園。他是一個快樂、富有的人。一天，一位老僧侶來拜訪這個農夫。僧侶坐在火爐旁。他告訴農夫世界是如何形成的。他講述花崗岩是如何形成的。他最後說道：「鑽石是所有物質中最珍貴的。它是凝固的陽光滴。」

農夫阿里·哈菲德聽得入迷了。然後老僧侶說了這些話。「如果你有一把鑽石，你可以買下整個國家。」為了強調其價值，他說了更多。他說，有了鑽石礦，阿里·哈菲德可以讓他的孩子成為統治者。

阿里·哈菲德無法將鑽石的念頭從腦海中驅除。他不停地想：「我想要一個鑽石礦。」第二天早上，他去了僧侶的家。他問：「我在哪裡可以找到鑽石？」僧侶說：「首先找到一條河。它必須流經白色的沙子。這條河必須在高山之間。在白色的沙子裡，你會找到鑽石。」

阿里·哈菲德賣掉了他的農場。他把錢存入銀行。他把家人託付給朋友照顧。他去尋找鑽石了。他漫遊又漫遊。他追尋著各種傳聞。最後他腳痛又疲憊。多年過去了。他的力氣耗盡了。最後他所有的財富也都沒了。他站在一片大海的岸邊。一個巨浪滾滾而來。他將疲憊的身軀投入其中。他沉沒在波浪之下。他沮喪而衰老。他的家人遠在天邊。他死時成了一個悲傷而疲憊的乞丐。