Lester was sad one day. He was upset and depressed about something. This issue disturbed him so much that he couldn't get over it. He wanted a solution and he went to the old wise sage Javier. "Oh wise Javier, I am depressed and sad. Could you give me something to make me feel happy? I want to be happy everyday, every hour ever minute and every second." Javier replied, "Ah..... that is very simple. I can make you a potion that makes you happy forever. Go to the whole village, every single house-hold and ask of a person who reveals that he is never sad before in his entire life. From there, ask a piece of fire-wood from this person for I need it to provide the suitable flame to brew the potion. Lester went to the whole village to search for this person. Yet, he could not find such a person. Lester went back to Javier in disappointment and said, "my wise sage, I cannot find anyone who fits your description. Everyone in the village has been sad before." Javier smiled and said, "Now do you understand why I ask you to undertake this task? I wanted you to find out yourself that in life, there are moments of sadness and happiness. What is happiness if there is no sadness? How do you tell them apart if they do not exist in the first place? Happiness co-exist with sadness. To ask for happiness, you will too ask for sadness. So why do you ask of happiness from me? Since you do not want sadness, what is the point?" Lester was very confused. He could not comprehend what Javier was saying.

So Javier took out a stick and asked Lester. "Is this stick long or short?" Lester said, "I think it is long." Javier took out another longer stick, referring to the original stick he asked the same question. Lester said "its short now" Javier asked, "why is it that the same object that I'm referring to, changes in its characteristic even though I did nothing to the stick itself? Did the nature of the stick change? Obviously it didn''t! What is it that changes then?" Lester couldn't answer the question. "The stick didn't change. It is your perspective that changes. It is your views that changes. They are like the water plants on the river without its roots. It drifts from one place to another. It is ever-changing, never constant or consistent. So are your emotions, of happiness and sadness, you sway from one end to the other because your emotions are built on your views and thoughts. And you will continue to do that if you are looking for happiness." Javier continued, "The way of life is the middle-way! It is neither happiness nor sadness. It is the intermediate of both emotions. There is not even a word for it. Yet you can cultivate it. Now take your leave, Lester. This is all I have to say and my answer for you."

Lester was struck with such amazement and was enlightened. He finally understood and he stopped asking for happiness, living his life the middle-way.