The Tale of the Two Apricots

In a journey across the world, one of the wise elders recounts, “I was traveling and exploring new places when I arrived at a village. A kind host invited me to his garden as a guest. He offered me apricots from his trees and asked, ‘Would you like an apricot that has been cultivated or one that has not?’

I was unfamiliar with his words and did not understand what he meant by ‘cultivated’ or ‘uncultivated.’ Curious, I simply nodded.

First, he brought me an apricot that was sour and dry, lacking juice. Then, he brought another apricot that was incredibly sweet and full of juice. Smiling, he explained, ‘This first apricot grew outside the garden, unattended and wild. No gardener cared for it, and thus, it grew this way. The second apricot, however, was carefully tended by a gardener. It was watered at the right times, watched over, and nurtured. This one is cultivated, while the other is not. This one is disciplined; the other is not.’

He paused to let the lesson sink in before adding, ‘Human beings are no different. Every person requires a guide, a mentor, someone to nurture them and provide structure. Without guidance, like the wild apricot, they may lack the sweetness and refinement that comes from care and discipline.'”

The wise elder reflected on this truth and concluded, “The value of humility before a teacher cannot be overstated. A mentor shapes a person’s growth, much like a gardener tends to their garden.”

Source: Stories of Mystics, Vol. 2, p. 22 (Dastan-haye Arefaneh, Jild 2, Safhe 22)