The Blue Light

A soldier, discharged from service with minimal compensation, wanders poor and hungry. He encounters a woman who offers him work for a year with promise of great reward. He accepts gratefully. For a year, he labors without complaint. At year's end, the woman gives him a seemingly worthless gift—a small pipe with a blue light inside. When he blows the pipe, the blue light appears and answers any question truthfully. Using reason and prudence, the soldier questions the light: "What treasure lies nearest?" The light directs him to a hidden fortune. "What is the cause of my misery?" The light reveals that a witch has cursed him. "How can I break this curse?" The light explains the means of liberation. Through careful reasoning, the soldier systematically addresses each obstacle. He uses the light not for idle wishes but for understanding. He reasons that if the light answers all questions truthfully, then by asking the right questions—questions about causes, consequences, and remedies—he can understand reality deeply. Eventually, the soldier uses this understanding to become wise and wealthy. He helps others by answering their questions with the blue light's aid, becoming a trusted counselor to kings and peasants alike. Reason and prudence—the commitment to ask proper questions and to follow truth wherever it leads—are more valuable than any magical power. The soldier's transformation from a simple soldier to a sage results not from magic but from his rational, prudent use of the wisdom the blue light provides.