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Continuing the text of the First Discourse, Section 10 and the discussion of maintaining the good condition of the soul, Nasir al-Din Tusi warns against becoming attached to material goods. As an example of the vulnerability created by the desire for precious items, he mentions the story of a ruler who was given a beautiful crystal bowl (seen in the illustration here, being offered on a tray to the enthroned king). When the bowl broke, the man was so sad over its loss that he failed to properly govern his kingdom.
See AKM288 for an introduction to a manuscript of the Ethics of Nasir (Akhlaq-i Nasiri) and links to the other paintings within this manuscript.
— Marika Sardar
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