Ramaswami was a prosperous merchant who had a remarkable skill for doing business and making money. But he was also attached to it; his emotions were tied to his business ventures. If he made money, he would rejoice and be happy. If he lost money, he would get angry and frustrated.

One day, a young man came asking for a job. Ramaswami hired him. He began helping the merchant with tasks such as writing letters, drafting contracts, and providing regular reports on the business. The boy was good. So good that Ramaswami said to a friend: