Walking on water

“Occam’s razor” principle teaches us to shave away the useless complications. Amazingly often the summit of competence is the power to make things simple. Keep them as simple as possible (but not simpler – would say the great Einstein). This reminds me of a story:

Tired of so many years of travel and danger, Nasreddin was wandering back home. On his long passage he met a Sufi saint. They walked together for many days, in silence, heading for Konya.

At the muddy banks of the Kizilirmak not far from Karalar, the large expanse of the waters halted their path. For a while, they looked quietly at the peaceful settlement on the other side of the river.

Unexpectedly, the saint spoke: "I can walk on water. It took fifty years of meditation, and now I am light enough. But I can’t take you with me."

The Hodja raised his eyebrows.

"Fifty years? That's a long time…"

Followed another long moment of deep meditation. Then Nasreddin added,

"Concerning our walking on waters… why not stroll quietly along the riverside to that ferryman with the boat and pay two coppers for the passage, both of us?"