The Camel's Desire

When Majnun, as the story goes, was making for his beloved Laila’s home, as long as he was fully conscious he drove his camel in that direction. But when for a moment he became absorbed in the thought of Laila and forgot his camel, the camel turned in its tracks toward the village where its foal was kept.
On coming to his senses, Majnun found that he had gone back a distance of two day’s journey.
For three months he continued this way, coming no closer to his goal. Finally he jumped off the camel, saying, “This camel is the ruin of me!” and continued on foot, singing:
My camel’s desire is now behind,
My own desire is before.
Our purposes were crossed

Fihi Ma Fihi - Discourse 4