no peanuts in church…

Master Benjo is asked by his favorite Acolyte, Gomi, to convey the Ultimate Secret Wisdom of the Marketplace. The Old Master’s eyes light up, and, after a dry little cough, he gives the following Teaching...

“Three of the Ancient Masters, ‘Zuck’, ‘Musk’ and ‘Bezos’ were summoned by the Orange Emperor to his castle in a Legendary Kingdom the ancients referred to as ‘Florida’. Unfortunately, while en route, Musk’s aircraft exploded (somewhat unexpectedly) over the open sea, and the Three Ancient Masters end up stranded on a desert island together.”

Master Benjo stops for a moment to regard his Beloved Acolyte’s puzzled visage. Ancient history had never been the Acolyte’s best subject.

“There is no escape from this island. The island is quite remote, far from any shipping lanes, so rescue is unlikely. There are no edible plants or animals there, either. Musk’s aircraft has been utterly destroyed, including any survival rations, communications or safety equipment”.

Master Benjo pauses again to regard his Beloved Acolyte’s still-puzzled visage. Neither ancient technology nor geography had been the Acolyte’s best subjects, either.

“Each was, however, able to grab one small item from their carry-on luggage right before it crashed. Zuck? He has a can of beans. Musk? An ounce of pure gold. Bezos? He has a can opener”.

Master Benjo, thinking, ‘Bah! Time to Peel Away the Child-Mind!’.

“What is the local market price of that can of beans, Gomi?”

Acolyte Gomi reflects, and stutters. “G-g-gold? An ounce of gold?”

Master Benjo, thinking– “Ah, Young Fool! Straight to the Transaction! Pre Valuation! Lack of Price Discovery! Bah!”

Master Benjo thwacks his cane on the ground between them. “Maybe so. Maybe not. Only a Transaction can Tell. But what would the local market price of that ounce of gold be, then?”

“Um… A can of beans?” says Acolyte Gomi, blinking.

Master Benjo , thinking ‘alas! So close! So far!’...

“Perhaps. Perhaps not. And yet… what is the most valuable item on that island, right now? And how much does that cost?” asks Master Benjo.

Acolyte Gomi pauses, thinks, reflects, and then asks, quietly: “That can of beans. Is it a pull-top?”

Master Benjo sees Gomi is ready... Time to strike!

Master Benjo smiles. “We don’t know. We’re not on the island.”

At that very moment, Acolyte Gomi attains Enlightenment.