In the village of Dangphu Dingphu, nestled high in the mountains of Bhutan where white clouds drifted between peaks like wandering sheep and prayer flags snapped in the crisp mountain wind, there lived an old man known to everyone as Meme Haylay Haylay. His back was bent from decades of hard work, his hands were gnarled like ancient tree roots, and his face bore the deep lines that come from a lifetime of laughter and hardship in equal measure. Though he owned almost nothing and lived in a small stone house with a leaking roof, Meme Haylay possessed something rare and precious: a heart that found joy in the simplest of things.
One bright morning, when the sun painted the snowy peaks gold and the air was fresh with the scent of wild flowers, Meme Haylay set out to work in a meadow he had been clearing. The meadow was rocky and difficult, but he needed the land for grazing his few animals. He took his worn spade and began digging, turning over the rich earth, removing stones and roots with patient determination.
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As his spade struck the ground for what must have been the hundredth time that morning, he heard an unusual sound, a dull clink that was different from the usual thud of metal against earth. Curious, Meme Haylay bent down and brushed away the loose soil with his weathered hands. There, gleaming in the sunlight, was a stone unlike any he had ever seen.
It was a yu, a turquoise, large and perfectly round, its surface smooth and lustrous. The stone was the deep blue-green color of mountain lakes in summer, with veins of lighter color running through it like rivers on a map. Meme Haylay’s breath caught in his throat. In Bhutan, turquoise was more than just a precious stone. It was considered sacred, a symbol of heaven, protection, and good fortune. Such a large and perfect turquoise could feed a family for years, perhaps even a lifetime.
“Aha!” Meme Haylay exclaimed, his eyes twinkling with delight. “Today, Meme’s fortune is burning bright!” He carefully wrapped the turquoise in a corner of his worn gho, the traditional Bhutanese robe, placed it in his basket, and set off toward home, his heart singing with joy.
He had not walked far along the winding mountain path when he encountered a man leading a sturdy horse. The horse was a fine animal, strong-shouldered and healthy, with a glossy brown coat and intelligent eyes. The man leading it was a trader from a nearby village.
“Where are you going, Meme Haylay?” the horseman called out cheerfully, recognizing the old man.
Meme Haylay’s face broke into a wide, gap-toothed smile. “Ah, my friend! Today Meme’s fortune is burning like the brightest butter lamp! As I was digging in the meadow, I found this!” He patted his basket meaningfully.
“Found what?” the horseman asked with polite interest.
“A turquoise! A magnificent yu!” Meme Haylay announced proudly. Then, before the horseman could even respond or ask to see the jewel, the old man said something completely unexpected: “Will you exchange your horse with my stone?”
The horseman stopped in his tracks, certain he must have misheard. “Excuse me, Meme? What did you say?”
“I asked if you will exchange your horse for my turquoise,” Meme Haylay repeated calmly, as if he were proposing the most reasonable trade in the world.
The horseman was struck speechless. Who in their right mind would trade a priceless turquoise for a horse? It would be like trading a palace for a tent! The turquoise was worth ten horses, perhaps twenty! He stared at the old man, wondering if age had finally affected his mind.
Meme Haylay set down his basket and carefully unwrapped the turquoise. Even in the dappled shade of the mountain path, the stone seemed to glow with an inner light. The horseman’s eyes widened. It was indeed a magnificent specimen, flawless and large. His heart filled with sympathy for the poor old man.
“Will you exchange your horse for it?” Meme Haylay asked again, his voice serious and determined.
“Meme Haylay, please don’t joke!” the horseman said, shaking his head vigorously. “Your yu is priceless! It’s worth more than my entire house and all my possessions! My horse, on the other hand, is just an ordinary animal. It’s worthless compared to your stone!”
But Meme Haylay’s expression became stern, almost irritated. “Priceless or worthless, you talk too much! If you want the trade, take this stone and give me the horse’s rope. If not, I’ll find someone else who will.”
The horseman could hardly believe his ears, but the old man appeared completely serious. Who was he to argue with good fortune? If the old man truly wanted to make this trade, who was he to refuse? Perhaps Meme Haylay had his own reasons, reasons beyond the understanding of ordinary folk.
“Very well, Meme,” the horseman said, trying to hide his excitement. He handed over the rope attached to the horse’s bridle and received the precious turquoise in return. As he walked away, cradling the jewel carefully in his hands, he felt like the luckiest, happiest man in the entire kingdom of Bhutan. He could scarcely believe his good fortune.
Meanwhile, Meme Haylay continued down the path, leading his newly acquired horse by the rope. He too felt like the happiest man in the world, perhaps even happier than the horseman. The horse walked beside him with steady, plodding steps, and Meme Haylay patted its neck affectionately, humming a cheerful tune.
He had not gone far when he met another man, this one driving an ox. The ox was a solid creature, useful for plowing fields and pulling heavy loads.
“That’s a fine ox you have,” Meme Haylay observed. An idea sparked in his mind. “Would you like to trade it for my horse?”
The ox driver looked at the horse, then at his ox, then back at Meme Haylay. “You want to trade your horse for my ox? But a horse is more valuable!”
“Perhaps,” Meme Haylay said with a shrug, “but I think an ox would suit me better. What do you say?”
The man agreed enthusiastically, thinking Meme Haylay must be addled but not wanting to miss such an opportunity. They made the exchange, and Meme Haylay continued on his way with the ox, feeling even more content than before.
As he walked, he encountered a shepherd leading a sheep with thick, fluffy wool. “What a beautiful sheep!” Meme Haylay exclaimed. “Would you trade it for my ox?”
The shepherd could barely suppress his grin as he agreed to the obviously unfavorable trade. And so the ox became a sheep.
A little further along, Meme Haylay met a woman with a goat. “A goat would be even better!” he thought, and promptly traded the sheep for the goat. The woman thought him quite mad but accepted gladly.
With each trade, Meme Haylay grew happier and more satisfied, while everyone he encountered thought him a complete fool. But their judgment didn’t bother him in the slightest. He felt richer with each exchange, though his possessions were objectively becoming less valuable.
Finally, near his village, he met a farmer carrying a magnificent rooster. The bird was splendid, with glossy feathers that shone red and gold in the sunlight, and a proud, regal bearing. When it crowed, the sound was strong and clear, echoing across the valley.
“Now that’s a fine rooster!” Meme Haylay said admiringly. “Would you trade it for my goat?”
The farmer couldn’t believe his luck. A goat for a rooster? What a bargain! He quickly agreed, and Meme Haylay tucked the rooster contentedly under his left arm and continued toward home.
As he walked, humming to himself, he suddenly heard something that made him stop in his tracks. Floating on the mountain breeze came the most beautiful song he had ever heard. The melody was simple but haunting, filled with joy and peace. The words spoke of mountains and clouds, of home and contentment, of finding happiness in small things.
Tears welled up in Meme Haylay’s eyes as he listened. The song touched something deep in his soul, expressing feelings he had always carried but never found words for. “I feel so happy just from hearing this song,” he thought, wiping his eyes with the back of his hand. “How much happier would I be if I could sing it myself?”
As if in answer to his thoughts, the singer appeared around a bend in the path. He was a young man with a traveling pack, a wandering musician who moved from village to village, singing for his supper.
“Where are you going, grandfather?” the young man asked respectfully.
Meme Haylay’s wrinkled face lit up with excitement. “Ah, young man! Today Meme’s fortune is burning brighter than the sun! Let me tell you what happened. As I was digging in the meadow this morning, I found a turquoise, a large and perfect yu!”
The song man’s eyebrows rose in surprise and interest.
“I exchanged the turquoise for a horse,” Meme Haylay continued cheerfully, “then the horse for an ox, the ox for a sheep, the sheep for a goat, and the goat for this rooster.” He held up the bird, which ruffled its feathers importantly. “Now, I have a proposal for you. Take this rooster, and teach me your song.”
The young man stared at Meme Haylay, unable to believe what he was hearing. A turquoise traded for a horse? A horse for an ox? And so on, all the way down to a rooster? And now the rooster for a song? He thought it must be some kind of joke or tall tale.
“Are you serious, grandfather?” he asked slowly. “You truly found a turquoise?”
“As true as the mountains stand,” Meme Haylay replied solemnly.
The song man shook his head in wonder. He knew that finding such a precious stone was extraordinarily rare. Only the richest, most powerful, meritorious, or incredibly lucky people ever found such treasures. And even if this poor old man had been blessed with such luck, surely even the greatest fool would not have made such a series of terrible trades.
But looking into Meme Haylay’s eyes, the young man saw complete sincerity and genuine happiness. The old man truly believed he had made excellent bargains. There was something profound in his expression, a contentment that the song man had rarely seen in wealthy merchants or powerful officials.
“Very well, grandfather,” the song man said softly, humbled by the old man’s simple joy. “I will teach you the song.”
He took the rooster, and then, sitting together on a flat rock by the path with the mountains rising all around them and prayer flags fluttering overhead, he taught Meme Haylay the song. He sang each line slowly, and Meme Haylay repeated after him, his aged voice cracking and wavering but filled with such happiness that it made the song sound more beautiful than ever.
They practiced until the old man knew every word and could carry the melody on his own. Finally, the song man stood up, tucked the rooster under his arm, bowed respectfully to Meme Haylay, and continued on his way, shaking his head in amazement at what he had witnessed.
Meme Haylay Haylay stood up too and began walking toward his home. As he walked, he sang his new song, his voice growing stronger and more confident with each verse. The melody floated across the terraced fields and up the mountainsides, carried on the wind.
In his heart, Meme Haylay felt he was the happiest person in the entire world. He felt like the richest person in the kingdom, wealthier than any merchant or noble. He felt like the most successful trader who had ever lived, having made the best bargains imaginable.
And perhaps, in the ways that truly mattered, he was right.
When he arrived home, his wife met him at the door. “Husband! Where have you been all day? And where is the turquoise everyone is talking about? A neighbor said you found a precious stone!”
Meme Haylay smiled his widest smile and began to sing his new song. His wife listened, confused at first, then slowly beginning to understand. As the evening light turned the mountains purple and gold, the old man sang, his voice carrying across the valley, a testament to the wealth that cannot be measured in jewels or gold, but only in the joy of a contented heart.
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The Moral Lesson
This profound tale teaches us that true wealth and happiness are not measured by material possessions but by the contentment we find in our hearts. While the world saw Meme Haylay as a fool for trading a priceless turquoise for items of decreasing value, he understood something deeper: that a song that brings joy, or any simple pleasure that fills the heart with happiness, is worth more than any precious stone. The story reminds us that we each define our own wealth, and those who find happiness in small, simple things are often richer than those who hoard treasures. Meme Haylay’s wisdom lay not in ignorance but in understanding that happiness itself is the greatest treasure.
Knowledge Check
Q1: Who is Meme Haylay in this Bhutanese folktale and what makes him special?
A: Meme Haylay Haylay is a poor but content old man living in the village of Dangphu Dingphu in Bhutan. What makes him special is his unique perspective on wealth and happiness. Unlike most people who would consider a turquoise priceless, he values simple joys and contentment more than material wealth, making him truly wise despite appearing foolish to others.
Q2: What is a yu (turquoise) and why is it significant in Bhutanese culture?
A: A yu is a turquoise stone, highly valued in Bhutanese culture not just for its monetary worth but for its spiritual significance. Turquoise is considered sacred in Bhutan, symbolizing heaven, protection, and good fortune. Finding a large, perfect turquoise is seen as an extremely rare blessing that only comes to the luckiest, most meritorious, or most powerful people.
Q3: What series of trades did Meme Haylay make in this folktale?
A: Meme Haylay made a descending series of trades: he exchanged the priceless turquoise for a horse, the horse for an ox, the ox for a sheep, the sheep for a goat, the goat for a rooster, and finally the rooster for a song. Each trade reduced the material value of what he owned, but in his mind, each trade made him happier and richer.
Q4: Why did all of Meme Haylay’s trading partners think he was a fool?
A: Each person who traded with Meme Haylay believed they were getting the better deal because they received something objectively more valuable than what they gave. The horseman got a priceless turquoise for an ordinary horse, the ox owner got a horse for an ox, and so on. They all thought Meme Haylay foolish because he was trading down in material value, not understanding that he was trading up in personal happiness.
Q5: What was the final trade and why was it the most meaningful?
A: The final trade was exchanging the rooster for a song. This was the most meaningful because it revealed Meme Haylay’s true values. The song brought him such joy that tears came to his eyes just from hearing it. By trading his last remaining possession for the ability to sing this song himself, he showed that he valued the intangible wealth of happiness and beauty over any material possession.
Q6: What Buddhist and Bhutanese cultural values are reflected in this story?
A: The story reflects several important Buddhist and Bhutanese values including detachment from material possessions, the pursuit of genuine happiness over wealth, the concept that contentment comes from within rather than from external circumstances, and the idea that what appears foolish to worldly eyes may be wisdom in spiritual terms. The story embodies the Buddhist teaching that attachment to material things causes suffering, while finding joy in simple pleasures leads to true contentment.
Source: Bhutanese folktale, Bhutan
