Once upon a time, a lino and a tiger stayed together in a cave. The two were very good friends. Though it might seem strange to us, they did not think their friendship was at all unusual, for they met when they were too young to know he difference between lions and tigers. Besides they lived in a peaceful part of the mountains, possibly due to the influence of a gentle forest monk who lived nearby. He was a hermit, one who lives far away from other people.
One day, for some unknown reason, the two friends got into a silly argument. "Everyone knows the cold comes when the moon wanes from full to new!" tiger said. "Where did you hear such nonsense? Everyone knows the cold comes when the moon waxes from new to full!" argued the lion.
The argument got more heated. Soon, they started calling each other names! They could not reach any conclusion to resolve their growing dispute as neither could convince the other. So, they decided to approach the learned forest monk to help resolve this issue.
When they reached the abode of the peaceful hermit, the two friends bowed respectfully before asking their question. The friendly monk pondered for a while and then gave his answer. " It can be cold in any phase of the moon, from new to full and back to new again. It is the wind that brings the cold, whether from the west or north or east. Therefore, in a way, you are both right! So neither of you are beaten by the other. The most important thing is to live without confict, to remain united. Unity is best in all situations."
The lion and the tiger thanked the wise hermit. They were happy they were still friends.
The Moral is >>> Strong friendship and unity can only be good for all.
Showing posts with label Moral Stories. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Moral Stories. Show all posts
Monday, August 6, 2007
The God in the Banyan Tree
In the past and even in some places today, people believe that tree gods or spirits inhabit large or unusual trees. They also believe that if you pray to the tree god and he helps to grant you your wish, you have to carry out what you promise the god.
In this story, which took place in the city of Kasi in northern India, a long time ago, this was what happened to a man who chanced upon a large banyan tree. Thinking that there must be a god staying in the tree, he made a wish and promised to perform an animal sacrificial offering if the wish was granted.
Not long after, his wish was fulfilled. But no one knows if it was the work of a god, a demon or by some other means. The man was sure the tree god had answered his prayer, so he wanted to keep his promise. As he had made a huge wish, it called for a big sacrifice. He brought many goats, mules, chickens and sheeps to the tree. Then he collected firewood and prepared to burn the helpless animals as a sacrifice.
Suddenly, the spirit living in the banyan tree appeared. "Oh friend, you made a promise, and now are bound by that promise. You think by keeping your promise, you will be released from the bondage that the promise binds you. But if you commit this terrible unwholesome act of killing, it will put you in greater bondage. You will have to suffer for taking the lives of others, and even take rebirths in hell worlds! The way to end suffering is to give up doing unwholesome actions!"
"And furthermore, what makes you think I eat meat? Haven't you heard that we gods eat better stuff, like 'ambrosia' or stardust or sunbeams? I have no use for meat or any other food offerings." Having said that, he disappeared.
The foolish man realised the mistake he had made. Instead of committing unwholesome deeds that would only bring unhappy results to him in the future, he began to do only wholesome deeds that would benefit himself and others.
The Morals is >>> Because you reap what you sow, keeping a bad promise is worse than making it.
In this story, which took place in the city of Kasi in northern India, a long time ago, this was what happened to a man who chanced upon a large banyan tree. Thinking that there must be a god staying in the tree, he made a wish and promised to perform an animal sacrificial offering if the wish was granted.
Not long after, his wish was fulfilled. But no one knows if it was the work of a god, a demon or by some other means. The man was sure the tree god had answered his prayer, so he wanted to keep his promise. As he had made a huge wish, it called for a big sacrifice. He brought many goats, mules, chickens and sheeps to the tree. Then he collected firewood and prepared to burn the helpless animals as a sacrifice.
Suddenly, the spirit living in the banyan tree appeared. "Oh friend, you made a promise, and now are bound by that promise. You think by keeping your promise, you will be released from the bondage that the promise binds you. But if you commit this terrible unwholesome act of killing, it will put you in greater bondage. You will have to suffer for taking the lives of others, and even take rebirths in hell worlds! The way to end suffering is to give up doing unwholesome actions!"
"And furthermore, what makes you think I eat meat? Haven't you heard that we gods eat better stuff, like 'ambrosia' or stardust or sunbeams? I have no use for meat or any other food offerings." Having said that, he disappeared.
The foolish man realised the mistake he had made. Instead of committing unwholesome deeds that would only bring unhappy results to him in the future, he began to do only wholesome deeds that would benefit himself and others.
The Morals is >>> Because you reap what you sow, keeping a bad promise is worse than making it.
Salty Liquor (Foolishness)
Once upon a time, there was a tavern owner in Benares. He had a hardworking bartender who was always inventing new ways of doing things.
One hot day, the tavern owner wanted to take a bath in a nearby river. So he put the bartender in charge of the tavern while he was away.
Now, the bartender wondered why most of the customers always take a bit of salt after drinking their alcohol. Not wishing to demonstrate his ignorance, he never bothered to ask them why they did this. He did not know that they ate the salt in order to remove the aftertaste of the liquor.
Thinking the customers ate the salt to make the liquor taste good, he wondered why tavern did not add salt to their liquor. He decided that if he did this, the business would make more money, and the tavern owner would be very pleased. So he added salt to all the liquor !
When the owner returned from his dip in the river, he found his tavern empty of customers and all his liquor runied. He recounted this story to his friend, and adviser to the king. "The ignorant, wishing to do good ofter cannot help but cause harm instead," said the advser.
The Moral is >>> The best intentions are no excuse for ignorance.
One hot day, the tavern owner wanted to take a bath in a nearby river. So he put the bartender in charge of the tavern while he was away.
Now, the bartender wondered why most of the customers always take a bit of salt after drinking their alcohol. Not wishing to demonstrate his ignorance, he never bothered to ask them why they did this. He did not know that they ate the salt in order to remove the aftertaste of the liquor.
Thinking the customers ate the salt to make the liquor taste good, he wondered why tavern did not add salt to their liquor. He decided that if he did this, the business would make more money, and the tavern owner would be very pleased. So he added salt to all the liquor !
When the owner returned from his dip in the river, he found his tavern empty of customers and all his liquor runied. He recounted this story to his friend, and adviser to the king. "The ignorant, wishing to do good ofter cannot help but cause harm instead," said the advser.
The Moral is >>> The best intentions are no excuse for ignorance.
Buried Treasure (The Arrogance of Power)
Once upon a time, there was an old man who lived in Benares. He had a beautiful young wife. He also had a very good friend, who was very wise.
The old man and his young wife had a son.. The man loved his son very much. "My beautiful young wife cannot be trusted. When I die, I am sure she will marry another man, and together they will waste the wealth I have slogged so hard for. There will be nothing left for my son. I will bury my wealth to protect it for him," he thought one day.
He called for his most faithful sevant, Nanda. Together, they went deep into the forest with all his wealth and buried it. "My dear Nanda," he said, "I know you are obedient and faithful. After I die, you must give this treasure to my son. Until then, keep it a secret. When you give the treasure to him, advise him to use it wisely and generously."
Not long after, the old man died. Several years later, his son completed his education. He returned home to take his place as the head of the family. "My son, being a suspicious man, your father hid his wealth. I am sure that his faithful servant, Nanda, knows where it is. You should ask him to show you. Then you can get married and support the whole family," said his mother.
The son went to Nanda and asked him if he knew were his father had hidden his wealth. Nanda told him that the treasure was buried in the forest, and that he knew the exact spot.
They took a basket and a shovel, and set off together into the forest. When they reached the place where the treasure was buried, Nanda suddenly became very arrogant. As he was the only one who knew this secret, he became proud and thought he was superior than the son, even though he was only a servant. "You are just the son of a servant girl " Where would you inherit a treasure from ?" he barked.
The patient son did not rebuff his father's servant. He suffered his abuse, even though it puzzled him. After a while, they returned home empty-handed. This strange behaviour happened twice.
"This is so strange. At home, Nanda appears willing to reveal the secret of the treasure. But whenever we go into the forest carrying the basket and shovel, he changes his mind. I wonder why," thought the son.
He decided to seek the advice of his father's wise old friend. He went to him and described all that had happened.
The wise old man said : "Go again with Nanda into the forest. Watch where he stands when he abuses you, which he surely will do. Then send him away saying : "You have no right to speak to me that way. Leave me."
"Dig up the ground on that very spot and you find your inheritance. Nanda is a weak man. Therefore, when he comes closest to his little bit of power, he turns it into abuse."
The son followed his advice. Sure enough, he found the buried treasure. As his father had hoped, he generously used the wealth for the benefit of many.
The Moral is >>> A little power soon goes to the head of who is one not used to it.
Two Stupid Children (Foolishness)
Long ago, there was an old carpenter with a shiny, bald head. On sunny days, his bald pate shined so brightly that people shaded their eyes when talking to him !
On one particularly sunny day, a hungry mosquito was attached to the old carpenter's bright shiny pate. He landed on his head and started biting.
The carpenter was busy smoothing a piece of wood with a plane, when he felt the mosquito bite. He tried to chase it away. But the hungry mosquito would not leave. So the man called his son over and asked him to get rid of the stubborn pest.
The son was not a bright boy. But he was hardworking and obedient. "Don't worry Dad, be patient. I'll kill that bug with just one blow !" he said.
The son picked up a very sharp axe. He took careful aim at the mosquito. Without thinking twice, he came down with the axe and split the mosquito into two ! Unfortunately, after slicing through the mosquito, the axe also spilt the carpenter's shiny bald head into two.
Meanwhile, an adviser to the king happened to be passing by with his fellowers. They saw what had happened, and were stunned that anyone could be so stupid !
"Do not be surprised by human stupidity ! This reminds me of a similar event that occurred just yesterday," said the king's adviser.
In a village not far from here a woman was cleaning rice. She was pounding it in a mortar with a pestle to separate the husks. As she was perspiring, a swarm of flies began buzzing around her head. She tried to chase them away, but the flies would not leave.
She called her daughter over and asked her to shoo away the bothersome insects. Although she was a rather foolish girl, the daughter always tried her best to please her mother.
So she stood up from her own mortar, raised her pestle, and took careful aim at the biggest and boldest of the flies. Without thinking, she pounded the fly to death! But of course, th same blow that killed the fly, also ended her mother's life.
"You all know what they say," said the adviser, finishing his story, "With friends like these, who needs enemies !"
The moral is >>> A wise enemy is less dangerus than a foolish friend.
On one particularly sunny day, a hungry mosquito was attached to the old carpenter's bright shiny pate. He landed on his head and started biting.
The carpenter was busy smoothing a piece of wood with a plane, when he felt the mosquito bite. He tried to chase it away. But the hungry mosquito would not leave. So the man called his son over and asked him to get rid of the stubborn pest.
The son was not a bright boy. But he was hardworking and obedient. "Don't worry Dad, be patient. I'll kill that bug with just one blow !" he said.
The son picked up a very sharp axe. He took careful aim at the mosquito. Without thinking twice, he came down with the axe and split the mosquito into two ! Unfortunately, after slicing through the mosquito, the axe also spilt the carpenter's shiny bald head into two.
Meanwhile, an adviser to the king happened to be passing by with his fellowers. They saw what had happened, and were stunned that anyone could be so stupid !
"Do not be surprised by human stupidity ! This reminds me of a similar event that occurred just yesterday," said the king's adviser.
In a village not far from here a woman was cleaning rice. She was pounding it in a mortar with a pestle to separate the husks. As she was perspiring, a swarm of flies began buzzing around her head. She tried to chase them away, but the flies would not leave.
She called her daughter over and asked her to shoo away the bothersome insects. Although she was a rather foolish girl, the daughter always tried her best to please her mother.
So she stood up from her own mortar, raised her pestle, and took careful aim at the biggest and boldest of the flies. Without thinking, she pounded the fly to death! But of course, th same blow that killed the fly, also ended her mother's life.
"You all know what they say," said the adviser, finishing his story, "With friends like these, who needs enemies !"
The moral is >>> A wise enemy is less dangerus than a foolish friend.
Finding a New Spring (Perseverance)
Once upon a time, a merchant led a caravan to another country to trade. One day, they came to the edge of a desert with sand as hot as burning coal. It was so scorching that no one, not even bullocks or camels could walk on it ! Left with no choice, the caravan leader hired a desert guide - one who could travel at night when the sand was cool. In this manner, they trekked dangerous across the desert at night.
This went on fine until one night, the guide complacently dozed off to sleep when he saw that they were reaching the end of the desert. Unattended, the bullocks gradually swerved to the side and travelled around in a big circle until they ended up at the same spot they had started from the night before !
By then, the sun had risen. When the people realised they were back at the same place they'd camped the day before, they lost heart and began complaining about their condition. They had used up all their water and were afraid that they woud die of thirst. "We can't do without water," they reproached the caravan leader and the guide.
"If I do nothing but just grumbed about this misfortune, we will all die here. Therefore I must be strong and face this challenge calmly !" thought the merchant. He began pacing up and down, thinking of a plan to save them all.
Suddenly, he noticed a small clump of grass. "No plant can survive in this desert without water," he analysed. So he gathered the strongest of his fellow travellers and asked them to dig a hole on that very spot. They dug and dug, and after a while they hit a large rock. "This effort is useless. We're just wasting our time !" they complained in a blaming tone once again. But the merchant replied : "No, my friends, if we give up now, it will be the end for us and our poor animals. Let us not be discouraged !
He got down into the hole immediately, placed his ear to the rock, and heard the sound of water flowing. Straight away, he called over a boy who had been digging and said : "If you give up, we will all perish - so take this heavy hammer and strike the rock."
The boy lifted the hammer over his head and hit the rock as hard as he could. To his surprise, the rock spilt open and a mighty gush of water sprang out from undereath ! All the people were overwhelmed with joy. They drank, bathed, washed their animals, cooked their food and ate heartily.
Before they left, they put up a tall banner so that other travellers could see it from afar and come to the new spring in the middle of the desert. Then, they continued on safely to the end of their journey.
The Moral is >>> Don't give up too easily. Keep on trying until you reach your goal.
This went on fine until one night, the guide complacently dozed off to sleep when he saw that they were reaching the end of the desert. Unattended, the bullocks gradually swerved to the side and travelled around in a big circle until they ended up at the same spot they had started from the night before !
By then, the sun had risen. When the people realised they were back at the same place they'd camped the day before, they lost heart and began complaining about their condition. They had used up all their water and were afraid that they woud die of thirst. "We can't do without water," they reproached the caravan leader and the guide.
"If I do nothing but just grumbed about this misfortune, we will all die here. Therefore I must be strong and face this challenge calmly !" thought the merchant. He began pacing up and down, thinking of a plan to save them all.
Suddenly, he noticed a small clump of grass. "No plant can survive in this desert without water," he analysed. So he gathered the strongest of his fellow travellers and asked them to dig a hole on that very spot. They dug and dug, and after a while they hit a large rock. "This effort is useless. We're just wasting our time !" they complained in a blaming tone once again. But the merchant replied : "No, my friends, if we give up now, it will be the end for us and our poor animals. Let us not be discouraged !
He got down into the hole immediately, placed his ear to the rock, and heard the sound of water flowing. Straight away, he called over a boy who had been digging and said : "If you give up, we will all perish - so take this heavy hammer and strike the rock."
The boy lifted the hammer over his head and hit the rock as hard as he could. To his surprise, the rock spilt open and a mighty gush of water sprang out from undereath ! All the people were overwhelmed with joy. They drank, bathed, washed their animals, cooked their food and ate heartily.
Before they left, they put up a tall banner so that other travellers could see it from afar and come to the new spring in the middle of the desert. Then, they continued on safely to the end of their journey.
The Moral is >>> Don't give up too easily. Keep on trying until you reach your goal.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)