Market

One went in search of an honest man in a market place in the bright day light. Finding himself in vain he remarked: " Market is a place where people deceive each other conventionally buying at a lower price giving at a higher price, and which is accepted by all."
Thus goes the story of a Zen Guru who used to go the market place every evening, observing all the new products just arrived in the market. He was known to be a saintly Guru who had only a begging bowl and a single dothi at his possession. However, his disciples were scandalized at this particular act of Guru that which expressed a persisting desire for the worldly things. But nobody dared to ask him about it. Days went on, the old Guru fell sick and was bed-ridden. As he was almost nearing the death, one of his brave disciples enquired him about his irreligious habit of market visit: "Dear Master, although you are considered by many as a saintly Guru living a life of complete detachment, why was it that you always visited the market place and looked at the worldly things displayed in the market, with so much of fascination?". The Guru replied: "Oh..! It was a curiosity of mine to see all those newly arrived things in the market which I do not require to live a happy life."

Market has its own dynamism, often artifical. their faces are enchating only to attract you, words are sweet like honey only to trap you, commodities are fascinating only to create new demands in you. The magic of the market is that it will generate in you a happiness that can never satisfy you. It is like honey, the more you drink the more you are thirsty. And it doesn't allow you to find happiness within yourself.
Another law of market is utility. In market only things that have utility have demand. And when the human relations are marketed the danger is much more grave. Old age, insanity, lack of abilities and charm, powerlessness, poverty etc. take you to the perifery of the market of life. At times, even I wonder at myself when my "contacts" are increasing and relations are decreasing.

After war, alliance = Marriage

Before marriage groom's and bride's families fight each other on their own maxium advantages. Marriage is the final alliance to settle the issue. Affection and love were less important considerations - Diogenes.

When hearing that her marriage is fixed I asked her, " How is the boy?"
She said, "He looks OK." My brotherly love for her couldn't help me asking her a few more questions.
I continued, " Have you known him before, I mean, his character?"
She said, "NO. It is an arranged marriage."
"Have you visited the house where you are going to live for the rest of your life?"
She replied, "NO. My parents did."
"But they are not coming to live with you, isn't it?" I said.
After a few minutes of silence she definitively replied with two big drops of tears flowing down through her cheeks, "You know, after all I am a girl."