http://www.ucalgary.ca/~dkbrown/storfolk.html
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Prelude…
The Brahman's Clothes
a folktale from India
Brahman music … There was once a Brahman who lived in India.
He was a sage, a seer, and a wise man. Like many Brahmans he
lived by begging and was very clever at wheedling money out of
people. One day the fancy took him to go to the marketplace
dressed only in a small loincloth such as the poorest laborers wear
and see how people treated him.
Begging music…So he set out, but on the road and in the
marketplace and in the village no one salaamed to him or made
way for him, and when he begged no one gave him alms.
Sadly walking home… He soon got tired of this and hastened
home.
Fine clothes …. He went to his fine chest where he kept his fine
garments, and on his best pagri [turban] and coat and dhoti
[waistcloth].
Boldly walks back to town… went back to the marketplace. This
time everyone who met him on the road salaamed low to him and
made way for him, and every shopkeeper to whom he went gave
him alms; and the people in the village who had refused before
gladly made offerings to him.
Thoughtfully walking… The Brahman went home smiling to
himself and took off his clothes and put them in a heap and
prostrated himself before them three or four times, saying each
time, "O source of wealth! O source of wealth!
It is clothes that are honored in this world and nothing else."
Postlude