The friend advised the merchant:  “Give him from the business he conducts for you a third of the profits, but let him also be liable for the same amount of the losses, when there is a loss.  Then, he’ll become more zealous.”

Kamaswami followed the advice.  But Siddhartha cared little about this.  When he made a profit, he accepted it with equanimity; when he made losses, he laughed and said:  “Well, look at this, so this one turned out badly!”

It seemed indeed, as if he did not care about the business.  At one time, he travelled to a village to buy a large harvest of rice there.  But when he got there, the rice had already been sold to another merchant.  Nevertheless, Siddhartha stayed for several days in that village, treated the farmers for a drink, gave copper-coins to their children, joined in the celebration of a wedding, and returned extremely satisfied from his trip.  Kamaswami held against him that he had not turned back right away, that he had wasted time and money.  Siddhartha answered:  “Stop scolding, dear friend!  Nothing was ever achieved by scolding.  If a loss has occurred, let me bear that loss.  I am very satisfied with this trip.  I have gotten to know many kinds of people, a Brahman has become my friend, children have sat on my knees, farmers have shown me their fields, nobody knew that I was a merchant.”

“That’s all very nice,” exclaimed Kamaswami indignantly, “but in fact, you are a merchant after all, one ought to think!  Or might you have only travelled for your amusement?”

“Surely,” Siddhartha laughed, “surely I have travelled for my amusement.  For what else?  I have gotten to know people and places, I have received kindness and trust, I have found friendship.  Look, my dear, if I had been Kamaswami, I would have travelled back, being annoyed and in a hurry, as soon as I had seen that my purchase had been rendered impossible, and time and money would indeed have been lost.  But like this, I’ve had a few good days, I’ve learned, had joy, I’ve neither harmed myself nor others by annoyance and hastiness.  And if I’ll ever return there again, perhaps to buy an upcoming harvest, or for whatever purpose it might be, friendly people will receive me in a friendly and happy manner, and I will praise myself for not showing any hurry and displeasure at that time.  So, leave it as it is, my friend, and don’t harm yourself by scolding!  If the day will come, when you will see:  this Siddhartha is harming me, then speak a word and Siddhartha will go on his own path.  But until then, let’s be satisfied with one another.”