DwarkaMai - Sai Baba Forum

Main Section => Sanskar => Topic started by: SS91 on November 25, 2007, 07:32:47 AM

Title: Moral Stories
Post by: SS91 on November 25, 2007, 07:32:47 AM
FEAR


There was a lion who feared nothing except the crowing of cocks.

A chill would go down his spine whenever he heard a cock crowing.

One day he confessed his fear to the elephant, who was greatly amused.

“How can the crowing of a cock hurt you?” he asked the lion. “Think about it!”

Just then a mosquito began circling the elephant’s head, frightening him out of his wits.

“If it gets into my ear I’m doomed!” he shrieked, flailing at the insect with his trunk.

Now it was the lion’s turn to feel amused.

Moral:  
If we could see our fears as others see them we would realise that most of our fears make no sense!
Title: Re: Moral Stories
Post by: SS91 on November 25, 2007, 06:48:24 PM
 
Filling a Sieve With Water  


 
The Teacher had given a discourse on creative thinking.

Afterwards his disciples approached him and asked him to set

them a problem that required them to think creatively.

The sage gave them a sieve and asked them to fill it with water at the sea, nearby.

 They were gone for a long time.

Finally he went down to the beach to see what they were doing,

and found them seated morosely around the sieve.

They scrambled to their feet when they saw him.

“You’ve set us an impossible task, sir,” said the oldest of the disciples.

“It’s just not possible to fill a sieve with water.”

“Are you sure?” asked the Teacher, picking up the sieve.

“Sometimes it helps to step back and view the problem from a different angle.”

He waded into the water and threw the sieve far out into the sea. It sank.

“There!” said the Teacher. “It’s full of water now.”


 
 
Title: Re: Moral Stories
Post by: SS91 on November 26, 2007, 07:34:30 PM
Cycle of Evil  

 
There was once a king who was so cruel and unjust that his subjects yearned for his death or

dethronement.

However, one day he surprised them all by announcing that he had decided to turn over a new leaf.

“No more cruelty, no more injustice,” he promised, and he was as good as his word.

He became known as the ‘Gentle Monarch’.

Months after his transformation one of his ministers plucked up enough courage to ask him what

had brought about his change of heart, and the king answered:

“As I was galloping through my forests I caught sight of a fox being chased by a hound.

The fox escaped into his hole but not before the hound had bitten into its leg and lamed it for life.

Later I rode into a village and saw the same hound there. It was barking at a man.

Even as I watched, the man picked up a huge stone and flung it at the dog, breaking its leg.

The man had not gone far when he was kicked by a horse.

His knee was shattered and he fell to the ground, disabled for life.

The horse began to run but it fell into a hole and broke its leg.

Reflecting on all that had happened, I thought: ‘Evil begets evil.

If I continue in my evil ways, I will surely be overtaken by evil’. So I decided to change”.

The minister went away convinced that the time was ripe to overthrow the king and seize the

throne. Immersed in thought, he did not see the steps in front of him and fell, breaking his neck.


 
Title: Re: Moral Stories
Post by: SS91 on November 27, 2007, 08:09:54 PM
Saint and Sinner  



 
Anastasius was abbot of a monastery in Egypt.

The monastery had a large collection of books, one among them being a rare volume, worth a fortune.

One day a visiting monk chanced upon the book and succumbing to temptation walked away with it.

The theft was discovered the same day and it was not hard to guess who the culprit was but Anastasius

refused to send anyone after the monk for fear that he might say he had not taken it and add the sin of

perjury to that of theft.

The monk meanwhile was trying to sell the book and eventually found a buyer, a rich man who asked him

to leave the book with him for a day so that he could get it evaluated.

When the monk had gone, the man hastened to the monastery and showed the book to Anastasius.

The abbot recognized it instantly but did not say anything.

“A monk wants to sell it to me,” said his visitor. “He’s asking for a gold sovereign.

You are knowledgeable about books. Is this book worth that much?”

“It’s worth much much more than a sovereign,” said the abbot. “It’s a valuable book.”

The man thanked the abbot and left.

The next day when the monk came, he informed him that he would like to buy the book

and was prepared to pay the price he had mentioned. The monk was overjoyed.

“Whom did you show it to?” he asked.

“Anastasius, the abbot.”

His visitor turned pale. “A-And what did he say?”

“He said the book was worth a sovereign.”

“And what else?”

“Nothing.”

The monk was both amazed and touched.

He realized that the abbot had refused to reclaim his lost treasure so that he,

the thief would not get into trouble.

Nobody had ever shown him such love; nobody had ever behaved so nobly towards him.

“I’ve changed my mind, I don’t want to sell it,” he said and took the book from the man.

“I’ll give you two sovereigns,” said the customer.

The monk walked away without answering.

He went directly to the monastery and handed the book to the abbot, tears brimming in his eyes.

“Keep it,” said Anastasius. “When I learnt you had borrowed it I decided to give it to you.”

“Please take it back,” pleaded the monk, “but let me stay here and learn wisdom from you.”

His wish was granted.

He spent the rest of his years in the monastery modelling his life after that of the saintly Anastasius.

 
Title: Re: Moral Stories
Post by: SS91 on November 28, 2007, 12:30:35 PM
Headstrong Companion  


 
Once upon a time there lived a Bharunda, a bird with two heads.

One day it found a strange fruit on the seashore.

It picked it up and started eating it.

The head that was feeding, exclaimed, "Many a sweet fruit tossed by the sea have I eaten,

but this beats them all! Is it the fruit of a sandalwood tree or that of the divine parijata?"

Hearing this, the other head asked to taste the fruit, but the first head refused, saying,

 "We have a common stomach, so there's no need for you to eat it too.

 I'll give it to our sweetheart, the Bharundi," and with that,

it tossed the half-eaten fruit to the  female.

From that day on, the second head carried a grudge against the first and waited for an

opportunity to take revenge.

 One day it found a poison fruit.

Picking up the fruit, it said to the first head, "You selfish wretch! See, here's a poison fruit

and I'm going to eat it!"

"Don't do that, you fool!" shrieked the first head, "you'll kill us both!"

But the second head would not listen.

It consumed the poison and soon the two-headed bird was dead.

—A tale from the Panchatantra


 
Title: Re: Moral Stories
Post by: SS91 on November 29, 2007, 07:22:15 PM
Moment of Truth  



 
There was a young student-archer who reached such proficiency in his art that he could shoot an arrow

into a tree and then cleave that arrow into two with the next shot. He began to boast that he was a

greater archer than his guru.

One day his guru, a venerable old man in his 70's, asked the youth to accompany him on a trip across the

hills. The journey was uneventful until they came to a deep chasm.

A single log spanned the chasm.

The guru walked down to the centre of the log, unshouldered his bow and taking an arrow shot it into a

tree on the other side. His next shot cleaved the first arrow into two.

"Now it's your turn," he said, walking back to where his student was standing.

The youth stepped gingerly on the log and very slowly and carefully made his way to the middle.

But his heart was in his mouth. He knew that if he lost his footing, he would plunge to his death.

His hands trembled as he strung an arrow into his bow.

Preoccupied with the danger he was in, he found it hard to focus on the target.

Consequently when he let go of the arrow, it missed the tree altogether.

Whimpering, he turned around.

"Help me!" he shouted to his guru. "I'll fall!"

The old man walked up to him, took his hand and stepping backwards led him to safety.

Neither of them said a word on the return journey but the boy had much to think about.

He had realised that to be a master of his art it was not enough to know how to control the bow,

 he had to learn how to control his mind too.

JaiSaiRam!!!!!!!!!


 
Title: Re: Moral Stories
Post by: SS91 on December 01, 2007, 04:05:01 PM
The Three Dolls  



 
A sage presented a prince with a set of three small dolls.

The prince was not amused.
"Am I a girl that you give me dolls?" he asked.

"This is a gift for a future king," said the man.

"If you look carefully, you'll see a hole in the ear of each doll."

"So?"

The sage handed him a piece of string.

"Pass it through each doll," he said.

Intrigued, the prince picked up the first doll and put the string into the ear.

It came out from the other ear.

"This is one type of person," said the man. "Whatever you tell him, comes out from the other ear.

He doesn't retain anything."

The prince put the string into the second doll. It came out from the mouth.

"This is the second type of person," said the man.

"Whatever you tell him, he tells everybody else."

The prince picked up the third doll and repeated the process.

The string did not reappear from anywhere else.

"This is the third type of person," said the man.

"Whatever you tell him is locked up within him. It never comes out."

"What is the best type of person?" asked the prince.

The man handed him a fourth doll, in answer.

When the prince put the string into the doll, it came out from the other ear.

"Do it again," said the sage.

The prince repeated the process.

This time the string came out from the mouth.

When he put the string in a third time, it did not come out at all.

"This is the best type of person," said the sage.

"To be trustworthy, a man must know when not to listen,

when to remain silent and when to speak out."

JaiSaiRam!!!!!!!!!
 
Title: Re: Moral Stories
Post by: SS91 on December 16, 2007, 05:10:37 PM
The Monkeys go fasting  


 
A group of monkeys decide to go on a fast one day.

“Before we begin, I think we should keep the food with which we’ll break the fast ready,” counselled the old monkey chief.

The monkeys nodded their heads in agreement. The youngsters were sent in search of food. They returned with huge hands of delicious-looking bananas.

“I think each of us should keep our share of bananas with us before we begin our fast, so that we don’t spend time distributing them after we break our fast.

You can imagine how hungry we all will be by then!” said the chief’s wife.

The monkeys liked the idea and they collected their share of the bananas.

“Why don’t we peel one banana and keep it ready to eat? ” said one of the youngsters.

“Yes, let’s do that,” shouted a fat monkey in agreement. Just looking at the bananas was making him hungry.

“All right,” said the monkey chief. “We shall peel the bananas but under no condition should we eat them.”

So the monkeys peeled their bananas and carefully kept them ready for eating in the evening.

“Can I keep the banana in my mouth? I promise not to eat it till evening. Please!” a little monkey asked his father.

“Why don’t we all put a banana in our mouth? That way we can chew it immediately when we break the fast,” said his father, who had agreed to go on the fast only because his wife had not given him a choice. “As long as we don’t eat it, it should be fine,” he added.

So, the monkeys put the bananas in their mouths. One by one they eyed each other uncomfortably as they began their fast — and as you can imagine, within no time at all, the bananas disappeared down their gullets. And that was the end of their fast!

JaiSaiRam!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 
Title: Re: Moral Stories
Post by: SS91 on December 23, 2007, 12:07:20 PM
The Right to Say No  

 
One day a beggar knocked at the door of a house, and when a woman opened the door, asked her for alms.

“I’ve nothing to give you,” said the woman. “Please go!”

The woman, who was newly married, lived with her mother-in-law.
When her mother-in-law heard her refusing alms to the beggar she was furious.

“Who are you to refuse alms to this man!” she demanded. “I’m the mistress of the house!!”

Thus chastened, the daughter-in-law fled to her room.

“Thank you, kind lady,” said the beggar, ingratiatingly.

“All I asked for was a coin to buy food. I did not know she was not the mistress of the house.”

“She’s not!” snapped the woman. “She had no right to refuse you alms. I’m in charge here, and let me tell you something: you’re not getting a paisa from me!!”

And with that, she slammed the door in the beggar’s face.




 
Title: Re: Moral Stories
Post by: SS91 on December 27, 2007, 06:47:35 AM
Half Hungry


 
When Niloy was born, his father had a dream in which Bidhata, the god who writes the destinies of men, appeared to him.

"Your son," said the god, "will never be able to fully satisfy his hunger. Train him to be satisfied with a minimum of food."

His father tried but Niloy never succeeded in overcoming his love for food, and when he couldn't get enough of it, it made him miserable. The years passed. Niloy married and raised a family, but poverty dogged his footsteps, and there was not a day when he could say he had had enough to eat. He always went to bed half hungry. One day he was invited to the wedding of a rich man's daughter. It made him feel that perhaps his luck had changed.

"There will certainly be a lot of food at the wedding," he thought. "I'll eat to my heart's content."

There was certainly a lot of food at the wedding, but when he had eaten just a little, a heavy decorative piece under which he was sitting, fell on him, rendering him unconscious. When he had recovered, all the food was over. His host , wanting to make up for the distress caused to him, invited him to lunch the next day. When he presented himself at the house the next afternoon, his host instructed his servants to take good care of him and to see that he was well fed.

Bidhata, god of destinies, was alarmed when he saw the servants piling food on the banana leaf from which Niloy was eating. He quickly took the form of a tiny frog and hopped onto the leaf, hoping that Niloy would be so filled with disgust that he would lose his appetite. What the god did not know was that his victim was extremely short-sighted. Niloy scooped up the frog along with a ball of rice and swallowed it.The god was trapped. His only consolation was that Niloy had begun to feel uneasy after swallowing him and had stopped eating.

Bidhata called out to Niloy while he was returning home and explained his predicament.

"Spit me out," he entreated.

"Spit you out!" exclaimed the man when he had got over the shock of hearing a voice from his stomach and that too of a god."You have troubled me all my life. Do you think I will let you go so easily!!"
"My duty is to write the destinies of men," said the god."I derive no pleasure from their tribulations."
"Be that as it may," said Niloy. "I will not let you go until you promise to end my state of perpetual hunger."
"I cannot alter anyone's destiny," said Bidhata, "but if you become my devotee and worship me in an appropriate manner you will have my blessings."

"One can achieve great things with divine blessings," thought Niloy. He forced himself to bring up the food he had eaten, and the frog came out in the process. As Bidhata assumed his true form, Niloy said to him: "Now tell me, what is the appropriate way to worship you?"

"In your case," replied Bidhata, "the only way you can worship me is by never fully satisfying your hunger. Remain hungry all the time."

Adapted from a Bengali Folktale.

 
Title: Re: Moral Stories
Post by: SS91 on February 01, 2008, 06:54:56 AM
The Foolish Lion and the clever rabbit


Once upon a time there lived a ferocious lion in the forest.

It was a greedy lion and started killing animals in the forest indiscriminately.

Seeing this, the animals gathered and decided to approach the lion with the offer of one

animal of each species volunteering itself to be eaten by the lion everyday.

So every day it was the turn of one of the animals and in the end came the rabbits' turn.

The rabbits chose a old rabbit among them. The rabbit was wise and old. It took its own

sweet time to go to the Lion. The Lion was getting impatient on not seeing any animal

come by and swore to kill all animals the next day.


The rabbit then strode along to the Lion by sunset.

The Lion was angry at him. But the wise rabbit was calm and slowly told the Lion that it

was not his fault. He told the Lion that a group of rabbits were coming to him for the day

when on the way, an angry Lion attacked them all and ate all rabbits but himself.

Somehow he escaped to reach safely, the rabbit said. He said that the other Lion was

challenging the supremacy of his Lordship the Lion. The Lion was naturally very enraged

and asked to be taken to the location of the other Lion.


The wise rabbit agreed and led the Lion towards a deep well filled with water. Then he

showed the Lion his reflection in the water of the well. The Lion was furious and started

growling and naturally its image in the water, the other Lion, was also equally angry.

Then the Lion jumped into the water at the other Lion to attack it, and so lost its life in the

 well. Thus the wise rabbit saved the forest and its inhabitants from the proud Lion.


MORAL: Wit is superior to brute force.
Title: Re: Moral Stories
Post by: SS91 on February 02, 2008, 02:43:51 PM
The Monkey and the crocodile

Once upon a time there lived a monkey named Red-face on a tree by the side of the sea. The tree was an apple tree and the fruits it bore were sweet as nectar. Once a crocodile named Ugly-Mug swam ashore and Red-face threw apples at him and asked him to taste them. Ugly-Mug started coming everyday ashore and eat the fruits thrown by Red-face and soon they became good friends. Ugly-Mug used to take some fruits to his home to his wife.


His wife was a greedy lady and asked him as to where he got the nectar filled apples. Ugly-Mug told about his friend the monkey. The lady was greedy and pleaded with her husband that she would like to eat the monkey's heart, as a person who gave such tasty fruits must have a heart filled with nectar. Ugly-Mug was angered and did not agree to deceiving his friend. But she then insisted on not eating anything till he brought her his friend's heart. Out of desperation, Ugly-mug started making plans for killing his friend.


He came back to Red-face and entreated him with an invitation to his house for supper stating that his wife would be thrilled to have him home and also that she was very anxious to meet such a nice friend. Poor Red-face believed the story but was asking his friend as to how he could cross the sea to reach the house of the crocodile on the other side. Ugly-mug then offered to carry him on his back and the monkey agreed.


In the middle of the sea, Ugly-mug took the crocodile deep into the ocean to kill the monkey. The monkey was frightened and asked the crocodile why he was doing this. Ugly-mug told him that his wife wanted to eat the monkey's heart filled with nectar. Red-face immediately asked it to take him back to the tree as he told him that he had left his other heart which was full of nectar back at the tree. The foolish crocodile then swam back to the tree and the terrified monkey jumped up the tree never to return. Upon being asked as to why she was not returning, the monkey answered to the crocodile that he had only one heart and he had been fooled and scolded his friend for misusing his friendship.


The crocodile was ashamed at what happened and asked the monkey if he could make any amends. And he was also scared that his wife would not let him back in because he had returned without the monkey's heart. Just then he heard that a huge he-crocodile had occupied the house of his. The monkey advised him to fight the he-crocodile and drive him out of his home and gain his wife's confidence. His advice the crocodile followed and he was back happy with his wife.


MORAL: Wit is superior to brute force.
Title: Re: Moral Stories
Post by: SS91 on February 03, 2008, 07:06:22 AM
The Sparrow and the elephant

Once upon a time there lived a sparrow with her husband on a tree. She had built a nice nest and laid her eggs in the nest. One morning, a wild elephant with spring fever feeling restive came to the tree in search of shade and in a rage broke the branch of the tree on which the nest was residing. Unluckily all the sparrow eggs were lost though both parents were saved. The she-sparrow was deep in lament.


Seeing her lament, the woodpecker bird, a friend of hers offered her consolation that she would think of a way of killing the elephant. Then she went to her friend the gnat, who in turn went to the counselor frog for advice. The frog then devised a scheme for killing the elephant. He asked the gnat to buzz in the ears of the elephant, so that the elephant would be thrilled to listen to the music of the gnat and close its eyes. Then she asked the woodpecker to pluck his eyes. She herself would be on the edge of a pit and would croak misleading the elephant to think that it is a pond.


The next day at noon the three carried out the plan and the elephant was killed when he fell flat into a pit after being blinded by the woodpecker when he closed his eyes in response to the gnat. So the revenge was taken with collective wit of all three animals.


MORAL: Wit is superior to brute force.
Title: Re: Moral Stories
Post by: SS91 on February 09, 2008, 02:40:28 PM
The blue Jackal


Once upon a time there lived a jackal who strayed into a city in search of food. He was hungry and was being chased by a group of dogs. He accidentally entered the house of a dyer and fell into a vat of indigo(blue), and was stained blue from head to toe. When he escaped from the house back into the forest, all animals were surprised at his appearance and could not place its identity. Taking advantage of the situation, the jackal decided to play the situation to his advantage. He proclaimed that he was Fierce Owl, sent by the king of Gods, Indra, to earth to gaurd the forest.


The gullible animals believed the jackal. The jackal then appointed the Lion as his Prime minister, tiger as his gaurdian of the bed chamber and the elephant was made the door keeper. He then drove all the jackals out of sight from the forest for fear of being recognized. The animals would hunt food and bring it to the self proclaimed king and the king would distribute the food to all equally just as a king would do. So he was leading a life of luxury.


One day a herd of jackals were passing by howling to their glory. Unable to control his natural instinct, FierceOwl showed his natural voice and howled at the top of his voice. Hearing this howl, the animals realised that they had been fooled by a jackal and killed the jackal instantly.


MORAL: Excess of Greed is harmful.
Title: Re: Moral Stories
Post by: SS91 on February 17, 2008, 02:01:58 PM
The greedy jackal


Once upon a time there lived a lazy jackal. Also in the hills there lived a hillman and a wild boar. Once when the hillman went to hunt, he saw the wold boar. He took a sharp aim with his arrow and stuck the boar. But the boar was only injured and it attacked the hillman and he died on the spot. But the boar also collapsed due to the injury and died.


The jackal happened to pass the site of both the dead bodies, and the jackal decided to eat them slowly. But he was excessively greedy and first wanted to eat the bowstring, before the other bodies. As he tried to eat the bowstring which was tightly attached to the bow, it snapped and the end of the string pierced the roof of its mouth and it stuck a big injury to the jackal and the jackal died on the spot.


MORAL: Too much of greed is harmful.
Title: Re: Moral Stories
Post by: SS91 on February 22, 2008, 04:40:35 PM
The heron and the crab


Once upon a time there lived a heron by the side of a pond. It was a lazy creature and once deivsed a plan to get a supply of fish without doing much work. So one day, he went to the side of the pond and put on a gloomy face without attempting to catch any fish. The pond was also inhabited by a carb, which was wise and often helped the fish in the pond. On seeing the gloomy heron, the crab asked her what the matter was.


The heron said, "Alas! I am worried that the pond is going to be soon devoid of any fish, which are in turn my source of food. I overheard a group of fishermen talking about catching all the fish in this pond. But I know of a pond somewhat far away, where all the fish shall be safe. If the fish are interested, i can carry a few each day to the other pond where they will be safe."


All the fish were eager to make use of the heron in reaching a safer destination. So everyday some of the them volunteer to go with the heron. The heron took some fish each day in the beak, and on reaching a large rock used to eat all the fish up and leave the bones of the fish at the rock. So she was able to get a continuos supply of fish at no effort at all. In the end, the curiosity got the better of the crab, and one day it volunteered to go with the fish. When it had gone closer to the rock, it realised the foul play the heron had been playing on the poor fish. Enraged, it tightened its claws around the neck of the heron and snapped the head of the heron off. The heron this died a selfish death. The crab crept back to the pond and told all the fish about the lies the heron had been telling.


MORAL: Excess of Greed is harmful.

Title: Re: Moral Stories
Post by: Ramesh Ramnani on February 23, 2008, 07:22:39 AM

जय सांई राम।।।

A person sitting by the roadside may look like a beggar, but if you look carefully there is an emperor hidden within him. ... Because if you look at the emperors carefully you will find beggars within them. They go on asking for more.

There was a Mohammedan fakir named Farid. The people of his village asked him to request the emperor Akbar to open a school in the village, as Akbar had great regard for him. Farid had never asked Akbar for anything. A fakir never asks, the fakir always gives. But since the people of the village had insisted on his seeing Akbar he could not refuse them, so he went. He had never visited the palace before this, but now he had to go.

He arrived there quite early in the morning and was told that the emperor was praying in his personal mosque. So Farid went and stood at the back. Akbar did not know this. He completed his prayer, raised his hands towards the sky, and said, "Oh God! Whatever you have given me is not enough, I want much more than this. Please make my kingdom much bigger than this. Please increase my wealth and my fame."

Farid just could not believe his ears. The great Emperor Akbar, who had such a vast kingdom, was still asking for more. He was still begging! So Farid thought, how could he ask from a person who is still asking for more? -- because opening a school means spending some money, he will have that much less.

अपना सांई प्यारा सांई सबसे न्यारा अपना सांई


ॐ सांई राम।।।
Title: Re: Moral Stories
Post by: SS91 on February 24, 2008, 11:12:17 AM
The crows and the serpent


Once upon a time there lived a crow couple, who had built a nest on the top of a tree. But unfortunately the tree was inhabited by a serpent at its bottom. So the serpent used to crawl up the tree and eat all the eggs that the lady crow used to lay. The crow couple were deeply grieved and when this happened time after time, then they decided that the serpent was to be get rid of by a plan.


So the crow then approached his friend the jackal and asked for a plan. The jackal then told him to go and fetch a costly thing from the palace of the king and throw the thing in the burrow of the snake. The crow went to palace, and stole a necklace of the queen while she was bathing. The gaurds of the palace ran after it. The crow then dropped the necklace in the burrow of the snake beneath the tree.


The gaurds on reaching the bottom of the tree, found the necklace gaurded by the serpent. Then they lynched the serpent and recovered the necklace. So the crow family was now happy that their eggs were safe now.


MORAL: Wit can achieve anything.
Title: Re: Moral Stories
Post by: SS91 on March 15, 2008, 04:22:06 PM
The swan and the owl


Once upon a time there lived a swan who used to spend time in various playful activites on a lake. Once an owl visited him in the forest and requested him to be friends, after praising the swan a lot. The swan agreed to be friends with him and they used to spend time near the lake a lot of days.


But the owl soon got bored of the place and told the swan, "I am going back to my home in the Lotus wood, and if you ever want to visit me you can visit me there." The swan, after many days once decided to pay a visit to the owl in the Lotus wood. On reaching Lotus wood, it could not find the owl, which was hiding in the dark hole. The owl asked the swan to take rest till daylight was over and told him that he could come out only at night. The swan decided to take rest.


It so happened that a group of merchants were passing by the next day early morning. The merchants chanted some hymns, and to that the owl replied with a hoot. Thinking that this was a bad omen, the merchants then decided to shoot the owl down. But in the meantime the owl had fled and taken refuge in a nearby hole near the shore of the lake. But the swan did not move. The arrow from the merchants came and hit the swan and it was killed.
Title: Re: Moral Stories
Post by: SS91 on March 29, 2008, 06:15:43 PM
The geese and the tortoise


Once upon a time there lived a pair of geese and a tortoise all three of whom were great friends.

One day they faced a huge drought and the lake in which they lived was drying up.

They decided to leave the lake and look for a new lake.

But the tortoise could not fly.

So the geese thought of a plan, where by the tortoise would have to hold a piece of stick by its mouth

which would be carried by the two geese.

The only condition was that the trotoise should not speak or it will fall from the stick to death.

The tortoise agreed to be silent.


But on seeing this stange arrangment , people on the way started laughing at the tortoise.

Unable to control his anxiety, he spoke out "What are they laughig about?", and so fell to his death.

 If he had kept quiet he could have saved his own life.


 
Title: Re: Moral Stories
Post by: SS91 on April 20, 2008, 06:27:16 PM
THE APE AND THE BOAR

AN Ape once took up his abode in a corner of the desert where there were many fig trees. He was a wise creature, and reasoned thus with himself:—

"I cannot live without food, and there is nothing here except fig trees. I must therefore eat sparingly of this fruit while it is ripe, and store away a quantity for my winter food."

Accordingly, it was his custom every day to shake a fig tree, eat a few green figs, and then dry the rest. One morning when he was in the top of one of the trees, a wild Boar ran by. He had been chased by a hunter far from his home. When the Ape saw the Boar, he trembled with fear so that the whole tree shook. The Boar, however, bowed low to the Ape, and said,—

"Do you want a guest?"

The Ape thereupon assumed a friendly air, and replied,—

"You are, indeed, most welcome. I regret only that I did not know beforehand of your coming. If I had, I would have prepared a feast in your honor. Now I have nothing to offer you but a few green figs."

The Boar again bowed humbly. "I have come a long distance," he replied, "and am hungry and weary. Anything, however simple it may be, that you will set before me, will taste as fine to me as a feast."

Thereupon the Ape shook the fig tree until not a single fig was left upon it. The Boar ate the fruit eagerly and should have been content, for the Ape had given him a generous meal. But, being a greedy creature, he remarked as he ate the last fig on the ground: "My dear host, these figs are delicious, but I am still ravenous with hunger. I pray you to shake another tree."

The Ape, who was still afraid of his guest, swung himself over into another tree and shook it. The Boar again fell to eating, nor was he satisfied when he had again swallowed the last fig.

"Make haste," he cried rudely to the Ape, at last forgetting his manners, his greediness was so great, "and find another tree as good as this last one."

But the Ape sat quietly where he was.

You have already made way with more figs than I eat in a month," he said. "If I give you any more, I myself must starve, for these figs are my only source of food."

Then the Boar growled with rage. To pay you for your stinginess, I will bring you down from that tree and eat you alive!" he shouted. He climbed into the tree, still growling, to bring down the Ape; but scarcely had he lodged in the first branch before it cracked beneath his weight and he fell to the ground, breaking his own neck.

Title: Re: Moral Stories
Post by: SS91 on April 23, 2008, 07:42:19 PM
THE APES, THE GLOW-WORM, AND THE POPINJAY


A TROOP of Apes once lived on a mountain, where they fed upon fruits and herbs. When the winter came on, the cold drove them down into the valleys. As they were wandering about here, looking for food and shelter, one of them came upon a Glow-Worm in the bushes. "Come quickly," he called to his brother Apes, ,and bring a large pile of driftwood. I have found a spark of fire, and we shall soon be warm now!"

From all directions the Apes came, running and scrambling along the ground, their arms full of driftwood. A few moments later, the huge pile was heaped on top of the Glow-Worm, and the Apes, sat around in a circle waiting for the wood to catch fire.

As they were waiting, a Popinjay in a tree called out,—

"You silly Apes, you may sit there with your teeth chattering until Doomsday, but that pile will never catch fire. That was not a spark that you found, but only a worm with a shining light in his tail!"

"Foolish bird," retorted the Apes, "do you think that we do not know a worm from a spark of fire?"

"It is not a spark," repeated the Popinjay. "It is not a spark. It is not a spark." And she flew down into their midst, still crying, "It is not a spark."

Whereupon the foolish Apes in anger sprang upon the Popinjay and tore her to pieces, feather by feather and bone by bone, until there was nothing left of her.

Title: Re: Moral Stories
Post by: SS91 on April 24, 2008, 03:51:34 PM
THE ASS, THE LION, AND THE FOX

A LION, who had always been a great hunter, was stricken in his old age with a fever and obliged to retreat into his lair. He had not even strength enough to stand on his legs, but slept all day with his great head resting on his front paws.

Now there was a Fox who had always lived near the Lion, and had followed the Lion when he went hunting in the wood. When the Lion had killed and eaten his fill of any game, the Fox always came up behind and devoured all that was left. Thus he lived for many years in this lazy fashion, and grew fat and strong. When he heard of the Lion's illness, he was greatly distressed.

"Shall I now, at this late stage of life, be obliged to kill my own meat?" he thought to himself. Then he lay down in his hole and set his wily brain to work.

Finally he arose and, putting on a very sad face, went to the Lion's lair and inquired for his health. The Lion replied mournfully that he thought he should soon die.

"But is there no cure for such a fever?" asked the Fox.

"None," replied the Lion, "unless I eat the heart and the ears of an Ass."

"Those, your Majesty, can be easily obtained, if you will but heed my advice," replied the Fox.

"Tell me, then, what trick you have devised," returned the Lion, "for I will gladly do anything to save my life."

So the Fox began:—

"Near here is a spring where every day a Bleacher comes to wash clothes, and an Ass, who is his beast of burden, grazes in the next field. Maybe I can make friends with the Ass. Then I will bring him near your den, and you can come out and kill him."

The next morning, when the Fox saw the Ass from afar, he trotted over to the spring and inquired, "Good Ass, why is it that you look so thin and worn?"

"Can you not see," replied the Ass, "that this Bleacher is constantly over-working me? He never grooms me, and never gives me enough to eat."

"That is a hard lot," the Fox made answer; "but have you not four good legs? Why do you not use them? A few moments would carry you safe beyond his reach."

"Alas," said the Ass, "I should only fall into the hands of another master, who might treat me even worse than this one. We poor asses are born to be beasts of burden, and there is no escape for us."

"But I," answered the Fox, softly, "can tell you of an escape. I know of a beautiful garden not far from here, filled with the finest clover, and where there are no men. I have just recently carried another Ass thither, and he is now sleek and happy."

The stupid Ass, never for a moment doubting that the Fox spoke the truth, besought him to take him to this garden. So, while the Bleacher was splashing his clothes in the spring, the Fox and the Ass set out together.

The Lion was lying in wait in his lair, and when the Ass came by, he sprang out and struck the poor beast a blow. But the Lion's paws were so weakened by the fever that the blow did nothing more than startle the Ass, who ran off across the field.

The Fox was at first very angry that his little game had thus failed, but he soon devised another trick. He trotted off swiftly and soon overtook the Ass.

"Traitor!" cried the Ass. "Is this the freedom which you promised me? Do you take me away from the hands of my master merely to hurl me into the jaws of a Lion?"

"Oh, foolish and weak-hearted Ass," replied the Fox. "You must know that this garden of which I told you is enchanted. You will meet there creatures in the shape of lions and wolves who will pretend to harm you, but who in reality can do nothing to hurt you. I should have warned you against these strange beasts, but it slipped my mind, I was so anxious to save you from your cruel master before it was too late. Only return now and be of good courage. You will soon see how needless your fears are."

The Fox trotted home in advance, and after a short hesitation, the Ass followed him. He soon found himself in a bed of clover, where he fed to his heart's content. In the meantime the Fox went to the Lion's den and whispered some words of cunning in his ear. After a while the Lion came forth. He walked quietly around the Ass, but did not once seek to do him harm. At last the Ass began to talk to him, and the Lion replied gently. They were soon such friends that the Ass, after he had finished eating, lay down by the Lion's side and went to sleep. The Fox now gave the signal, and the Lion fell upon the Ass and slew him.

"There is but one thing more necessary," said the Lion, "to make my cure complete. I must go and bathe in the spring before eating. Do you therefore watch over the Ass until I return."

With these words the Lion crawled away, and the Fox seized this chance to devour the heart and the ears of the Ass, which were in truth the only parts of him worth eating.

The Lion, after finishing his bath, returned and began to hunt for the heart and the ears of the Ass, When he could find no trace of either, he said to the Fox:—

"Faithless creature, where are the two parts of the Ass which were to cure my fever?"

And the Fox replied, "Oh, most worthy King, you should yourself know that this beast had neither heart nor ears. If he had had ears, which are the seat of the hearing, he would have known that I spoke falsehoods; and if he had had a heart, which is the seat of the feelings, he would have been overcome with fear at the very sight of you." And with these last words of treachery, the Fox escaped into the woods.


JaiSaiRam.
Title: Re: Moral Stories
Post by: SS91 on April 25, 2008, 07:20:38 PM
THE BLEACHER, THE CRANE, AND THE HAWK

A BLEACHER, who was wont to go to the river each morning to wash his clothes, saw there one day a Crane. The Crane was standing on the bank of the stream catching small fish to eat. Just at that moment a swift-flying Hawk appeared, in pursuit of a fat Quail. The Hawk, after he had caught the Quail and eaten a part of it, left the rest on the ground, and the Crane at once devoured it. He had never before tasted such delicious meat, and decided that hereafter he would eat nothing but quails.

The next day, as he stood on one leg by the river, a pigeon flew past. The Crane at once took wing and started after it. The Pigeon chose her path along the banks of the stream, and kept well in advance. The Crane, in the rear, soon fell into the mud. The more he fluttered his wings, the faster his feet stuck in the mire.

The Pigeon was hardly out of sight before the Bleacher came by and easily caught the Crane. On his way home a friend met him, who inquired,—

"What have you there?"

The Bleacher laughed. "This is a simple-minded Crane," he said, "who was not content to be what God made him, but must try to imitate a swift-flying Hawk. Naturally he has come to a bad end."

Title: Re: Moral Stories
Post by: SS91 on April 26, 2008, 01:19:30 PM
THE BLIND MAN AND THE SNAKE

ONCE upon a time, a Blind Man and a Man who could see were traveling together. When it came night, they rode into a meadow, dismounted, and lay down to sleep until morning. Before it was quite dawn, as they were about to start on their way again, the Blind Man sought for his whip. By chance a Snake was lying near by, frozen stiff with the cold. The Blind Man's hand fell upon it, and thinking to himself, "This is much softer than my old whip," he picked it up and mounted his horse.

As it grew light, the Man who could see glanced over at his companion and saw that he held a Snake in his hand. In great alarm he cried out,—

"Oh, comrade, what you imagine to be a whip is in reality a Snake. Be quick and throw it away before it bite you."

But the Blind Man only laughed. What, are you envious of my good luck?" he replied. "I lost my whip, but some good fortune has placed this softer and better one in my hand. Pray do not think because I am blind that I am also a fool. I am not such a simpleton that I do not know the difference between a whip and a Snake."

"My good friend," answered the other Man, for your own welfare, I beg of you to believe me and throw away this Snake." But the Blind Man only clung the more tightly to the Snake, which, awakened by the warmth of the man's hand, coiled itself about his wrist and bit him so that he died.

JaiSaiRam.
Title: Re: Moral Stories
Post by: fatima on April 27, 2008, 06:58:38 AM
Situated on the banks of the Ganges near holy Rishikesh in the Himalayas, there was once an ashram that had attracted a fair number of seekers due to the holiness of its presiding monk. The guru would take in all seekers who wanted to learn a life of dedication to God; but such was his love that he often did not discriminate who he allowed to stay.

After some time, he noticed that the ashramites were often quarrelling and he could hear rude words that left him pained. ‘Why are they angry with one another?’ the guru asked himself. But he could not bring himself to throw anyone out - such was his compassion. One day he saw two inmates fighting over food in the ashram canteen. The incident left him shocked and he returned to his hut in a despondent mood.

What can be wrong with them?’ he asked himself. He was racked with the problem of remedying the situation and elevating their souls. So, he increased his discourses to them and gave more personal advice on their sadhana. The inmates’ reverence for their guru increased, but unfortunately this did not translate in better behavior towards each other.

The Guru, then resolved to practice penance and ask the Lord for divine help before matters could get any worse. So, he shut himself away in his hut for a week, maintained silence and took a reduced diet. After some days of intense prayers and meditation, he was rewarded with a vision of celestial light. The guru was transfixed in bliss as the Lord’s nectarine voice came through the light:

“My child, my dear child.” The Guru could not believe his ears. He was thrilled to hear the sweet voice. “Is it really you, my Lord?” he asked filled with ecstasy and disbelief. “Yes, my child,” God said lovingly. “Tell me, what can I do for you?”

The Guru prostrated to the Divine voice and said, “Dear Lord, be pleased to come to my ashram.”

“What for?” the Voice asked.

“You know everything, Lord,” the guru humbly submitted. “Yet, I shall say it. The members of the ashram hate one another; they are jealous of each other. Lord, if you come and stay with us for a week, they will be filled with pure and noble thoughts.”

The kind lord replied, “Certainly, I will come, but not for one week, but for ever.”

The Guru’s joy knew no bounds. But the Voice continued, “But only on one condition.”

“What is it, my Lord,” the guru asked eagerly.

“I will come, but not in this form,” the Lord clarified. “I will always be at the ashram in the guise of one of the inmates. I shall always be moving in the hearts of one of them; it could be anyone of them.”

With these words, the Light disappeared.

The Guru, after recovering from that ethereal experience, opened the door of his hut and called all the ashramites to assemble. When he informed them of God’s wish to abide in their hearts they rejoiced, but they were confused too.

“Is this inmate sitting near me God in disguise?” one disciple thought. “Who could be ‘God in disguise’ person?” Nobody knew and everybody was left guessing and as a result careful too. For, each one thought, “How can I fight against anyone here? What if he is one in whom God is there now?” And thus, a subtle change slowly came over in each one of them. They began to see God in everyone and took every opportunity to help the other and be kind and courteous. The whole atmosphere in the ashram was now totally transformed – only love and harmony prevailed.

The guru was the happiest man now. The Lord’s trick had done wonders.

Moral: If we reflect, we can make our family, our society and our earth just like this ashram – full of peace and harmony – if only we believe and practice the feeling that each one is just God in a different form. Our life would become a sweet experience, every moment.
Title: Re: Moral Stories
Post by: fatima on May 28, 2008, 03:40:09 AM
A little boy was spending his Saturday morning playing in his sandbox. He had with him his box of cars and trucks, his plastic pail, and a shiny, red plastic shovel. In the process of creating roads and tunnels in the soft sand, he discovered a large rock in the middle of the sandbox.

The boy dug around the rock, managing to dislodge it from the dirt. With a little bit of struggle, he pushed and nudged the rock across the sandbox by using his feet. (He was a very small boy, and the rock was very large.) When the boy got the rock to the edge of the sandbox however, he found that he couldn't roll it up and over the little wall.

Determined, the little boy shoved, pushed, and pried, but every time he thought he had made some progress, the rock tipped and then fell back into the sandbox. The little boy grunted, struggled, pushed, & shoved; but his only reward was to have the rock roll back, smashing his chubby fingers.

Finally he burst into tears of frustration. All this time the boy's father watched from his living room window as the drama unfolded. At the moment the tears fell, a large shadow fell across the boy and the sandbox. It was the boy's father. Gently but firmly he said,

"Son, why didn't you use all the strength that you had available?"

Defeated, the boy sobbed back,

"But I did, Daddy, I did! I used all the strength that I had!"

"No, son," corrected the father kindly.

"You didn't use all the strength you had. You didn't ask me."

With that the father reached down, picked up the rock and removed it from the sandbox.

Do you have "rocks" in your life that need to be removed? Are you discovering that you don't have what it takes to lift them? There is One who is always available to us and willing to give us the strength we need. Isn't it funny how we try so hard to do things ourselves.
Title: Re: Moral Stories
Post by: Ramesh Ramnani on May 28, 2008, 04:09:16 AM
जय सांई राम।।।

सच्ची भक्ति  

आचार्य विनोबा भावे रेलगाड़ी से वर्धा जा रहे थे । अचानक ट्रेन के डिब्बे में एक वृद्ध फकीर चढ़ा। फकीर ने भक्ति भाव वाला गीत गाना शुरू किया । उसके मधुर आवाज एवम गीतों के भावों को सुन कर बिनोवाजी भावविभोर हो उठे ।

डिब्बे में अन्य यात्री भी फकीर के गायन के जादू से मंत्रमुग्ध हो रहे थे ।उसी डब्बे में एक धनाढ्य जमींदार भी बैठा थे । उसने अपने जेब से पाँच रूपये का नोट निकाला तथा बोला- "एक-एक पैसा ईकठा करने में भला क्या मिलेगा ? मैं रूपये देता हूँ , शर्त यह है की भजन की जगह फिल्मी गीत गाओ ।"

फकीर ने जबाब दिया - "मैंने नियम बना रखा है की परमात्मा के अलावा वाणी से किसी की प्रशंसा नहीं करूंगा ।"

अब जमींदार ने सौ का नोट निकाला तथा कहा- "नियम-वियम को रखो ताक पर। यह सौ रूपये लो और फिल्मी गीत सुनाओ ।"

तब फकीर बोला- "आप एक लाख रूपये देंगे तब भी मैं भगवान् की स्तुति के अलावा किसी के गीत न गाऊंगा ।"

फकीर के ये शब्द सुनकर आचार्य बिनोबा भावे इतने अधिक प्रभावित हुए की उन्होंने उठ कर उसे गले से लगा लिया और बोले -"आज पता चला है सूरदास, तुलसीदास व मीराबाई की परम्परा के सच्चे भक्त अभी भी इस पृथ्वी पर हैं । जिसे लालच न प्रभावित कर सके वही सच्चा भक्त है ।"

अपना सांई प्यारा सांई सबसे न्यारा अपना सांई


ॐ सांई राम।।।
Title: Re: Moral Stories ---------(The story of the Monkey and the Crocodile)
Post by: fatima on June 02, 2008, 02:58:02 AM
The story of the Monkey and the crocodile

 

Once upon a time there lived a monkey named Red-face on a tree by the side of the sea. The tree was an apple tree and the fruits it bore were sweet as nectar. Once a crocodile named Ugly-Mug swam ashore and Red-face threw apples at him and asked him to taste them. Ugly-Mug started coming everyday ashore and eat the fruits thrown by Red-face and soon they became good friends. Ugly-Mug used to take some fruits to his home to his wife.

.

His wife was a greedy lady and asked him as to where he got the nectar filled apples. Ugly-Mug told about his friend the monkey. The lady was greedy and pleaded with her husband that she would like to eat the monkey's heart, as a person who gave such tasty fruits must have a heart filled with nectar. Ugly-Mug was angered and did not agree to deceive his friend. But she then insisted on not eating anything till he brought her his friend's heart. Out of desperation, Ugly-mug started making plans for killing his friend.

.

He came back to Red-face and entreated him with an invitation to his house for supper stating that his wife would be thrilled to have him home and also that she was very anxious to meet such a nice friend. Poor Red-face believed the story but was asking his friend as to how he could cross the sea to reach the house of the crocodile on the other side. Ugly-mug then offered to carry him on his back and the monkey agreed.

.

In the middle of the sea, Ugly-mug took the crocodile deep into the ocean to kill the monkey. The monkey was frightened and asked the crocodile why he was doing this. Ugly-mug told him that his wife wanted to eat the monkey's heart filled with nectar. Red-face immediately asked it to take him back to the tree as he told him that he had left his other heart which was full of nectar back at the tree. The foolish crocodile then swam back to the tree and the terrified monkey jumped up the tree never to return. Upon being asked as to why she was not returning, the monkey answered to the crocodile that he had only one heart and he had been fooled and scolded his friend for misusing his friendship.

.

The crocodile was ashamed at what happened and asked the monkey if he could make any amends. And he was also scared that his wife would not let him back in because he had returned without the monkey's heart. Just then he heard that a huge he-crocodile had occupied the house of his. The monkey advised him to fight the he-crocodile and drive him out of his home and gain his wife's confidence. His advice the crocodile followed and he was back happy with his wife.

 

MORAL: Wit is superior to brute force.
Title: Re: Moral Stories
Post by: fatima on June 03, 2008, 03:38:15 AM
The Farmer's Donkey

 

One day a farmer's donkey fell into an abandoned well. The animal cried piteously for hours as the farmer tried to figure out what to do. Finally, he decided the animal was too old and the well needed to be covered up anyway; so it just wasn't worth it to him to try to retrieve the donkey.

 

He invited all his neighbors to come over and help him. They each grabbed a shovel and began to shovel dirt into the well. Realizing what was happening, the donkey at first cried and wailed horribly.

 

Then, a few shovel-fulls later, he quieted down completely. The farmer peered down into the well, and was astounded by what he saw. With every shovel-full of dirt that hit his back, the donkey would shake it off and take a step up on the new layer of dirt.

 

As the farmer's neighbors continued to shovel dirt on top of the animal, he would shake it off and take a step up. Pretty soon, the donkey stepped up over the edge of the well and trotted off, to the shock and astonishment of everyone.

 
The Moral: Life is going to shovel dirt on you, all kinds of dirt. The trick to getting out of the well is to stop wailing, and not let the dirt bury you, but to shake it off and take a step up. Each one of our troubles is a stepping-stone. We can get out of the deepest wells just by not stopping, never giving up! Shake it off and take a step up.

 
Title: Re: Moral Stories
Post by: Ramesh Ramnani on June 05, 2008, 08:57:46 AM
जय सांई राम।।।

न देने वाला मन  

एक भिखारी सुबह-सुबह भीख मांगने निकला। चलते समय उसने अपनी झोली में जौ के मुट्ठी भर दाने डाल लिए। टोटके या अंधविश्वास के कारण भिक्षाटन के लिए निकलते समय भिखारी अपनी झोली खाली नहीं रखते। थैली देख कर दूसरों को लगता है कि इसे पहले से किसी ने दे रखा है। पूर्णिमा का दिन था, भिखारी सोच रहा था कि आज ईश्वर की कृपा होगी तो मेरी यह झोली शाम से पहले ही भर जाएगी।

अचानक सामने से राजपथ पर उसी देश के राजा की सवारी आती दिखाई दी। भिखारी खुश हो गया। उसने सोचा, राजा के दर्शन और उनसे मिलने वाले दान से सारे दरिद्र दूर हो जाएंगे, जीवन संवर जाएगा। जैसे-जैसे राजा की सवारी निकट आती गई, भिखारी की कल्पना और उत्तेजना भी बढ़ती गई। जैसे ही राजा का रथ भिखारी के निकट आया, राजा ने अपना रथ रुकवाया, उतर कर उसके निकट पहुंचे। भिखारी की तो मानो सांसें ही रुकने लगीं। लेकिन राजा ने उसे कुछ देने के बदले उलटे अपनी बहुमूल्य चादर उसके सामने फैला दी और भीख की याचना करने लगे। भिखारी को समझ नहीं आ रहा था कि क्या करे। अभी वह सोच ही रहा था कि राजा ने पुन: याचना की। भिखारी ने अपनी झोली में हाथ डाला, मगर हमेशा दूसरों से लेने वाला मन देने को राजी नहीं हो रहा था। जैसे-तैसे कर उसने दो दाने जौ के निकाले और उन्हें राजा की चादर पर डाल दिया। उस दिन भिखारी को रोज से अधिक भीख मिली, मगर वे दो दाने देने का मलाल उसे सारे दिन रहा। शाम को जब उसने झोली पलटी तो उसके आश्चर्य की सीमा न रही। जो जौ वह ले गया था, उसके दो दाने सोने के हो गए थे। उसे समझ में आया कि यह दान की ही महिमा के कारण हुआ है। वह पछताया कि काश! उस समय राजा को और अधिक जौ दी होती, लेकिन नहीं दे सका, क्योंकि देने की आदत जो नहीं थी।

 
अपना सांई प्यारा सांई सबसे न्यारा अपना सांई


ॐ सांई राम।।।
Title: Re: Moral Stories ---The Story Of The Bird With The Two Necks
Post by: fatima on June 07, 2008, 04:47:07 AM


 

Once upon a time there lived a special kind of bird which had two necks and shared a common stomach.


One day, one of the heads found a jar of nectar and on seeing this other head also wanted to taste the nectar but the first neck refused to let it have it. Enraged, the other neck soon found a jar of poison and it consumed it. The poison reached the common stomach and both the necks perished.

.MORAL: Sharing of a good thing with others is always good
Title: Re: Moral Stories -----------The story of the blue Jackal
Post by: fatima on June 08, 2008, 06:42:57 AM


Once upon a time there lived a jackal that strayed into a city in search of food. He was hungry and was being chased by a group of dogs. He accidentally entered the house of a dyer and fell into a vat of indigo (blue), and was stained blue from head to toe. When he escaped from the house back into the forest, all animals were surprised at his appearance and could not place its identity. Taking advantage of the situation, the jackal decided to play the situation to his advantage. He proclaimed that he was Fierce Owl, sent by the king of Gods, Indra, to earth to guard the forest.

The gullible animals believed the jackal. The jackal then appointed the Lion as his Prime minister, tiger as his guardian of the bed chamber and the elephant was made the door keeper. He then drove all the jackals out of sight from the forest for fear of being recognized. The animals would hunt food and bring it to the self proclaimed king and the king would distribute the food to all equally just as a king would do. So he was leading a life of luxury.


One day a herd of jackals were passing by howling to their glory. Unable to control his natural instinct, Fierce Owl showed his natural voice and howled at the top of his voice. Hearing this howl, the animals realized that they had been fooled by a jackal and killed the jackal instantly.

 

MORAL: Excess of Greed is harmful.
Title: Re: Moral Stories --------Wooden Bowl
Post by: fatima on June 12, 2008, 05:39:02 AM


  A frail old man went to live with his son, daughter-in-law, and four-year grandson. The old man's hands trembled, his eyesight was blurred, and his step faltered. The family ate together at the table. But the elderly grandfather's shaky hands and failing sight made eating difficult. Peas rolled off his spoon onto the floor. When he grasped the glass, milk spilled on the tablecloth. The son and daughter-in-law became irritated with the mess.

  "We must do something about Grandfather," said the son. "I've had enough of his spilled milk, noisy eating, and food on the floor." So the husband and wife set a small table in the corner.
 
There, Grandfather ate alone while the rest of the family enjoyed dinner. Since Grandfather had broken a dish or two, his food was served in a wooden bowl.
 
When the family glanced in Grandfather's direction, sometime he had a tear in his eye as he sat alone. Still, the only words the couple had for him were sharp admonitions when he dropped a fork or spilled food.
 
The four-year-old watched it all in silence. One evening before supper, the father noticed his son playing with wood scraps on the floor. He asked the child sweetly, "What are you making?" Just as sweetly, the boy responded, "Oh, I am making a little bowl for you and Mama to eat your food when I grow up." The four-year-old smiled and went back to work.
 
The words so struck the parents that they were speechless. Then tears started to stream down their cheeks. Though no word was spoken, both knew what must be done. That evening the husband took Grandfather's hand and gently led him back to the family table. For the remainder of his days he ate every meal with the family. And for some reason, neither husband nor wife seemed to care any longer when a fork was dropped, milk spilled, or the tablecloth soiled.

Care and love your Parents as you would expect your children to love and care for you.

Remember, as you sow, so shall you reap, and regardless of your relationship with your Parents, you will miss them when they are gone.
Title: Re: Moral Stories ------The Clever Shepherd
Post by: fatima on June 19, 2008, 04:49:42 AM


In the kingdom of Naoda lived a poor shepherd named Balloo. He used to be paid in food and clothes only every day for grazing the cows of the village Kistopur where he lived.

One day a thief stole the temple bell and hid away on the nearby hilltop. He hung the bell in a cave where he did his stolen booty. One day a tiger saw him the in the forest nearby and devoured him.

 A group of monkeys lived on the trees near the cave. As we all know, the monkey is a very mischievous animal. Seeing the bell hanging in the cave, they started using it as a swing. In the process, the bell pealed loud and strong. After one would get fed up, another monkey would jump on the bell and swing on it. In this way the bell would ring the whole day.

A few villagers became curious and went up to find out this mysterious happening. As they reached the forest, they found the skeleton of the thief who had been killed by the tiger.

They all agreed that it was the job of a man eating giant and ran away. The word spread over the village and news reached the ling. They called it Rogue-Bell Ringer.

The Villagers were afraid and started fleeing from the village. The shepherd had no cattle to graze and started starving. He decided that it would be better to die than be hungry all the time but before dying he would fight the rogue.

He picked up of his staff and huge bad and started climbing the hillside. As he reached the cave on the hilltop, he shivered with fear but as he peeped inside, he burst out laughing on seeing the monkeys and their pranks. He had solved the riddle of the ringing bell.

He put all the treasure hidden in the cave inside the bag and then shooing away the animals, he pulled down the bell. Then carrying both, he reached the king's palace.

The king was very worried to hear of the villagers fleeing from the village and when he heard the truth from the shepherd, he was delighted. He praised him for his bravery and gave him a lot of wealth for his honesty.



LESSON: "Bravery is the quality of facing adversity even when you are mortally afraid."
[/b]

Title: Re: Moral Stories
Post by: fatima on June 24, 2008, 08:07:49 AM
THE MOUSE WHICH TURNED INTO A LION:

In a dense forest lived a great sage named Bhrigu Rishi. He lived a secluded life in a small shelter where he spent his days in prayer. A small mouse also lived near the shelter and over the years became a very pious and an ardent disciple of the sage.

Whenever Bhrigu sat deep in meditation or sang hymns in praise of God, the mouse would also sit near him and meditate. His only problem was that being a mouse, he was always in fear of his life from cats, dogs and vultures and this fear was biggest obstacle.

Bhrigu Rishi had been observing the mouse over the years and knew about his fear. Having pity on him, he decided to end this problem, once for all, by transforming the mouse in to a lion. He could then move boldly and meditate with peace.

The sage was a hermit with extraordinary powers, acquired over the years through his prayers and meditation. He could achieve or be blessed with whatever he desired by praying to God.

He started his meditation and when he reached the level of supernatural he prayed, " Oh God! The mouse is one of your ardent devotees, but his prayers are disturbed because he lives in fear all the time. I pray that you change him into a lion so that he can overcome this fear".

The almighty granted him this wish and the mouse became a lion. The surprising result of this was that his outlook was also transformed to the attributes of the jungle king. He would roam over the forest freely and all the other animals would bow and greet him fearfully. He has hailed as their leader.

Only the sage know of his original state of mouse and this reality made him treat him still like a mouse. This was resented by the 'mouse turned lion' because it would affect his dignity. Once the other animals know of it they would then ridicule and disrespect him. He decided to kill the sage, his benefactor, so that the secret was not revealed to others.

After being mentally prepared to do the killing, he rushed off to the hermitage.

Bhrigu Rishi had extraordinary powers and the moment he saw the lion rushing at him, he read his mind. This ungratefulness made him very angry and he transfixed lion with his stare.

As the lion stood trembling before the sage, he got reverted back to his original physical state of a mouse.

If the 'mouse turned lion' had not forgotten his earlier days and thought ill of his benefactor, he would not have been reverted back to mouse again
.

Lesson: "Never be ungrateful to your benefactor. A person, who becomes rich or powerful and forgets his earlier periods of misery, is destined to stumble in life, again and again.
]
Title: Re: Moral Stories ---Blessed Are The Faithful
Post by: fatima on June 25, 2008, 08:06:22 AM


   Karnapriya was the Prince of Thandar. He was an intelligent and handsome young man but all his wit failed when a snake bit him.

The Prince became dull and slowly turned dark complexioned and withered. The King and his Ministers were surprised one day to find him missing. After a lot of search they found him in the neighbouring kingdom dressed like an ascetic and living in the temple premises.

Karnapriya was spending his days in the service of God and ate whatever he received in his begging bowl.

The King here had two daughters who were also very pious. They came to the temple every morning and prayed. After prayers the elder princess would say, " Hail the King, who provides all that we need and deserve."

The younger Princess Kalawati would bow before the idol of Vishnu and Say, " I am satisfied with whatever you have given. O God! This is my fate."

The King was very annoyed to hear this. He was the provider and his own daughter did not acknowledge this instead she accepted that whatever luxury she enjoyed was only because of her destiny.  He got her married to Prince Karnapriya and asked her to leave the Palace.

Princess Kalawati accepted this turn of events, also, as her fate and tried to make the best of it. They moved away from the temple and set up house near the forest.

One day as the Prince cut the wood for fire, Kalawati went in to the forest to gather fruits and vegetables. When she came back she found Karnapriya sleeping under the tree. As he exhaled his breath, blue flames came out and this attracted a big snake which spread its hood and inhaled the Prince's breath.

Kalawati hid behind a tree and watched this. Soon another huge snake came out of the hole nearby. It fumed and hissed. "Why do you disturb the Prince, you scoundrel? Leave him alone, he is mine."

The black snake hissed back, "I can cure the Prince by just rubbing my body against him whilst you can only add to the poison. You hide a huge amount of gold ornaments and coins in your hole, why don't you bring them out and help him if you love him so much?"

Princess Kalawati heard this exchange and decided that God had sent her an opportunity to benefit from.

She took up her sword and hacked both of them to death. She then picked the black snake and rubbed Karnapriya's body with it. Lo and Behold! The Prince stood up as handsome as earlier with an aura around him.

Both Karnapriya and Kalawati then dug up the Snake's treasure and what a treasure it was! Gold, Diamonds and emeralds dazzled in the sunlight, enough to suffice an emperor.

They embraced each other with joy and knelt to pray. Soon a voice was heard, "This is the reward for all your piety and you will be blessed shortly with a son who will be the handsomest of all. Go back to your kingdom and fulfill your responsibilities."

They both went back and were welcomed amongst a lot of fanfare. All citizens hailed and sang their praises and they lived happily ever after.



Moral :'No one can challenge fate but you can change your destiny through perseverity and hard work.'

Title: Re: Moral Stories ------The Three Dolls
Post by: fatima on July 21, 2008, 07:33:11 AM


A sage presented a prince with a set of three small dolls. The prince was not amused.
"Am I a girl that you give me dolls?" he asked.

"This is a gift for a future king," said the man. "If you look carefully, you'll see a hole in the ear of each doll."

"So?"

The sage handed him a piece of string.

"Pass it through each doll," he said.

Intrigued, the prince picked up the first doll and put the string into the ear.

It came out from the other ear.

"This is one type of person," said the man. "Whatever you tell him, comes out from the other ear. He doesn't retain anything."

The prince put the string into the second doll. It came out from the mouth.

"This is the second type of person," said the man. "Whatever you tell him, he tells everybody else."

The prince picked up the third doll and repeated the process. The string did not reappear from anywhere else.

"This is the third type of person," said the man. "Whatever you tell him is locked up within him. It never comes out."

"What is the best type of person?" asked the prince.

The man handed him a fourth doll, in answer.

When the prince put the string into the doll, it came out from the other ear.

"Do it again," said the sage. The prince repeated the process. This time the string came out from the mouth. When he put the string in a third time, it did not come out at all.

"This is the best type of person," said the sage. "To be trustworthy, a man must know when not to listen, when to remain silent and when to speak out."
Title: Re: Moral Stories
Post by: SS91 on August 14, 2008, 06:59:46 AM
The story of the bird with the two necks

Once upon a time there lived a special kind of bird which had two necks and shared a common stomach.
.
One day, one of the heads found a jar of nectar and on seeing this other head also wanted to taste the nectar but the first neck refused to let it have it. Enraged, the other neck soon found a jar of poison and it consumed it. The poison reached the common stomach and both the necks perished.
.
MORAL:   Sharing of a good thing with others is always good.
Title: Re: Moral Stories
Post by: SS91 on August 21, 2008, 10:09:58 AM
The Loss of Friends  


Once upon a time, Amarasakti ruled the city-state of Mahilaropyam in the south of India. He had three witless sons who became a matter of endless worry for him. Realizing that his sons had no interest in learning, the king summoned his ministers and said:

“You know I am not happy with my sons. According to men of learning an unborn son and a stillborn son are better than a son who is a dimwit. What good is a barren cow? A son who is stupid will bring dishonour to his father. How can I make them fit to be my successors? I turn to you for advice.”

One of the ministers suggested the name of Vishnu Sharman, a great scholar enjoying the respect of hundreds of his disciples. “He is the most competent person to tutor your children. Entrust them to his care and very soon you will see the change.”

The king summoned Vishnu Sharman and pleaded with him “Oh, venerable scholar, take pity on me and please train my sons into great scholars and I will make you the lord of hundred villages.”

Vishnu Sharman said “Oh, king, listen to my pledge. Hundred villages do not tempt me to vend learning. Count six months from today. If I do not make your children great scholars, you can ask me to change my name.”

The king immediately called his sons and handed them to the care of the learned man. Sharman took them to his monastery where he started teaching them the five strategies (Panchatantra). Keeping his word, he finished the task the king entrusted him in six months. Since then, Panchatantra became popular all over the world as children's guide in solving problems of life.

Now begins the Loss of Friends (first of the five strategies) series. These are stories that figure in a dialogue between two jackals named Karataka and Damanaka.

Long, long ago, a merchant named Vardhaman lived in a town in the south of India. As he was resting on his bed one day it struck him that money was the axis of the world and that the more he had of it the more he would be powerful. Even enemies seek the friendship of a rich man, he told himself. The old become young if they have riches and the young become old if they do not have wealth. Business is one of the six ways that help man amass wealth. This was his logic.

Mobilizing all his wares, Vardhaman set out on an auspicious day for Madhura in search of markets for his goods. He began his travel in a gaily-decorated cart drawn by two bullocks. On the way, tired of the long haul, one of the bullocks named Sanjeevaka collapsed in the middle of a jungle near river Jamuna. But the merchant continued his journey asking some of his servants to take care of the animal. But the servants abandoned the bullock soon after their master had left. Joining him later, they told him that the bullock was dead.

In fact, Sanjeevaka was not dead. Feeding on the abundant fresh and tender grass in the forest, he regained strength and began to merrily explore the jungle, dancing and singing in joy. In the same forest lived Pingalaka, the lion.Sanjeevaka, content with his new life in the jungle would waltz and sing uproariously with joy. One day, Pingalaka and other animals were drinking water in the Jamuna when the lion heard the frightening bellow of the bullock. In panic, the lion withdrew into the forest and sat deeply lost in thought and surrounded by other animals.

Sensing the predicament of their king, two jackals, Karataka and Damanaka, sons of two dismissed ministers, were clueless as to what had happened to their king.

“What could have happened to the lord of the forest,” asked Damanaka.

“Why should we poke our nose into affairs that are not our concern? Haven't you heard the story of the monkey which pulled out the wedge from the log,” asked Damanaka.

“Sounds interesting. Why don't you tell me what happened to the monkey,” pleaded Damanaka.

“Now, listen,” said Damanaka and began narrating the story of the monkey.

Jaisairam
Title: Re: Moral Stories
Post by: SS91 on September 06, 2008, 06:50:22 PM
The Monkey And The Wedge

  A    merchant once started building a temple in the middle of his garden. Many masons and carpenters were working for the merchant. They took time off every day to go to the town for their lunch. One day, when the workers left for lunch a batch of monkeys landed at the temple site and began playing with whatever caught their fancy. One of the monkeys saw a partly sawed log of wood and a wedge fixed in it so that it does not close up.

Curious to know what it is, the monkey began furiously tugging at the wedge. At last the wedge came off, not before trapping the legs of the monkey into the rift of the log. Very soon, not able to get his legs out of the closed wood, the monkey died.

“Therefore,” Karataka told Damanaka, “it is not wise to poke our nose into affairs that are not our concern. We have a food store. Why should we bother ourselves about this lion?”

Damanaka retorted, “Food is not the centre of our life. The elders have said that wise men seek the help of the king to help friends and harm foes. There are hundred ways of collecting food. What matters is a life full of learning, courage and wealth. If living somehow is the goal, even the crow lives long eating leftovers.”

“True, but we are not ministers any more. The elders have always said that the stupid person who offers uncalled for advice to the king invites not only insult but also deceit,” said Karataka.

“No,” Damanaka said, “anyone who serves the king with devotion is bound to earn his favour in the long run. The one who does not remains where he is. Those who understand why the king is angry or generous will one-day rise in office. It is necessary to be in the good books of the king.'

“Okay, what do you want to do now?” asked Karataka.

“You know the king is scared now. We will ask him what frightens him and using the six ways of diplomacy get close to him.”

“How do you know the king is scared?”

“Changes in posture, signs, pace, actions, conversation, looks and expression indicate the working of the mind. I will approach the fear-struck king today and with my intelligence, I will dispel his fear and once again become his minister,” said Damanaka.

“How can you do it when you do not know principles of service?” asked Karataka.

Damanaka told him all he knew and learnt about what makes a good and loyal servant in the service of the king.

“In that case, I wish you all good luck,” said Karataka.

Taking leave of Karataka, Damanaka then called on the king. Recognizing that he was the son of his old minister, King Pingalaka told his sentry to bring him into his presence. Damanaka came down on his knees to pay respects to the king.

“We haven't seen you for a long time,” the king said.

“I don't know of what use I can be to you, my lord. Yet, according to the learned, there are occasions when every person however high or low will be of use to the king. For generations we have served the king with devotion. Yet I am out of your majesty's favour.”

“All right, competent or incompetent you are the son of our old minister. Go ahead and tell me whatever you have in your mind,” the king ordered Damanaka.

“May I ask you humbly, my lord, what made you come back from the lake without drinking water,” asked Damanaka reluctantly.

“O' Damanaka, haven't you heard the great and frightening sounds in the distance? I want to leave this forest. The strange animal that could make such sounds ought to be as powerful as the sounds he makes.”

“Your majesty, if it is only sound that is your problem, I wish to submit that sounds are misleading. I can tell you the story of the jackal, how it overcame the fear of sound.”

Let us hear it, said the king.  

Jaya Jaya Ram Sai Ram     Jaya Jaya Ram Sai Ram             Jaya Jaya Ram Sai Ram       Jaya Jaya Ram Sai Ram
Title: Re: Moral Stories
Post by: SS91 on September 06, 2008, 06:52:31 PM
The Jackal And The Drum

  A hungry jackal set out in search of food and ended up at an abandoned battlefield whence he heard loud and strange sounds. Scared, he thought, “I must disappear from here before the man who is making these sounds gets me.” After a while he told himself, “I must not run away like that. Let me find out what really the sounds are and who is making them because whether it is fear or happiness one must know its cause. Such a person will never regret his actions. So, let me first look for the source of these noises.”

Warily, the jackal marched in the direction of the sounds and found a drum there. It was this drum, which was sending the sounds whenever the branches of the tree above brushed against it. Relieved, the jackal began playing the drum and thought that there could be food inside it. The jackal entered the drum by piercing its side. He was disappointed to find no food in it. Yet he consoled himself saying that he rid himself of the fear of sound.

“Therefore”, Damanaka told king Pingalaka, “your majesty should not be afraid of sounds. I seek your permission to go and see what the sounds are.”

“Okay,” said the king. Taking leave of the king, Damanaka proceeded in the direction of the sound.

The king now began worrying himself about Damanaka's intentions. “He may have a grudge against me for dismissing him once. Such persons seek revenge. I should not have taken him into confidence. Let me keep an eye on him. Wise men have always maintained that it is difficult to kill even a weak man who does not easily trust others but easy to kill a strong man who readily trusts others,” the king thought.

As the king kept an eye on him, Damanaka moved slowly towards Sanjeevaka, the bullock, and found that he was after all an animal and thought, “This is a good omen. This will help me to get back into the good books of the king. Kings never follow the advice of their ministers unless they are in peril or grief. Just as a healthy man never thinks of a doctor, a strong and secure king also never remembers the need for a minister.”

Assured that what he saw was only a bullock, Damanaka returned to the king and told him what he saw.

“Is it true?” the king asked.

“The king is God. The man who lies to a king perishes. He alone has the power to grant favours.”

“I believe you. Great men do not harm weaker people. They take on only their equals. That is what is unique about brave people.”

“What your majesty says is true. Sanjeevaka is great. If your lordship permits me, I will persuade him to be one of your servants.”

“All right, I am taking you back as a minister,” said the king, pleased.

Damanaka at once hurried back to Sanjeevaka and told him to stop bellowing and come and meet his king. But the bullock wanted who this Pingalaka was. “What? You do not know our lord? Wait, you will know shortly the cost of this ignorance. There he is, surrounded by his retinue under the banyan tree.” Sanjeevaka thought his days were numbered and pleaded with Damanaka, “Sir, you seem to be a man of great wisdom and wit. You alone can save me. I can come only if you can assure me that no harm will come to me.” Damanaka told the bullock to wait for the right time to meet the king.

Returning to the king, Damanaka told him “My lord, he is not an ordinary being. He is the vehicle of Lord Shiva. He told me that Lord Shiva had permitted him to feed on the tender grass in the neighbourhood of Jamuna. But I told him that the forest belonged to our lion king who is the vehicle of goddess Chandika. You are our guest. You can see our king and seek a separate space for you to graze. He agreed to this plan provided he has an assurance from your majesty.”

“Yes, certainly. But I will need assurance from him in return. Bring him here,” the king told Damanaka. Going back to the bullock Damanaka advised him, “You have the assurance of the king. But this new position should not go to your head. We have to work together. That is how we can prosper. Otherwise, he who does not respect everyone, however high or low, will forfeit the favour of kings like Dantila.”

“What about Dantila?” asked Sanjeevaka.  
Jaya Jaya Sai Jaya Jaya Ram  Jaya Jaya Sai Jaya Jaya Ram  Jaya Jaya Sai Jaya Jaya Ram
Title: Re: Moral Stories
Post by: SS91 on October 04, 2008, 07:27:57 PM
The Buzzard, The Bat, and the Bumblebee



If you put a buzzard in a pen six or eight feet square and entirely open at the top, the bird, in spite of his ability to fly, will be an absolute prisoner. The reason is that a buzzard always begins a flight from the ground with a run of ten or twelve feet. Without space to run, as is his habit, he will not even attempt to fly, but will remain a prisoner for life in a small jail with no top.

The ordinary bat that flies around at night, a remarkable nimble creature in the air, cannot take off from a level place. If it is placed on the floor or flat ground, all it can do is shuffle about helplessly and, no doubt, painfully, until it reaches some slight elevation from which it can throw itself into the air. Then, at once, it takes off like a flash.

A Bumblebee if dropped into an open tumbler will be there until it dies, unless it is taken out. It never sees the means of escape at the top, but persists in trying to find some way out through the sides near the bottom. It will seek a way where none exists, until it completely destroys itself.

In many ways, there are lots of people like the buzzard, the bat and the bee. They are struggling about with all their problems and frustrations, not realizing that the answer is right there above them.
Title: Re: Moral Stories
Post by: SS91 on October 04, 2008, 07:29:20 PM
Trees That Wood



Once there were three trees on a hill in the woods. They were discussing their hopes and dreams when the first tree said, "Someday I hope to be a treasure chest. I could be filled with gold, silver and precious gems. I could be decorated with intricate carving and everyone would see the beauty."

Then the second tree said, "Someday I will be a mighty ship. I will take kings and queens across the waters and sail to the corners of the world. Everyone will feel safe in me because of the strength of my hull."

Finally the third tree said, "I want to grow to be the tallest and straightest tree in the forest. People will see me on top of the hill and look up to my branches, and think of the heavens and God and how close to them I am reaching. I will be the greatest tree of all time and people will always remember me."

After a few years of praying that their dreams would come true, a group of woodsmen came upon the trees. When one came to the first tree he said, "This looks like a strong tree, I think I should be able to sell the wood to a carpenter" ... and he began cutting it down. The tree was happy, because he knew that the carpenter would make him into a treasure chest.

At the second tree a woodsman said, "This looks like a strong tree, I should be able to sell it to the shipyard." The second tree was happy because he knew he was on his way to becoming a mighty ship.

When the woodsmen came upon the third tree, the tree was frightened because he knew that if they cut him down his dreams would not come true. One of the woodsmen said, "I don't need anything special from my tree so I'll take this one", and he cut it down.

When the first tree arrived at the carpenters, he was made into a feed box for animals. He was then placed in a barn and filled with hay. This was not at all what he had prayed for. The second tree was cut and made into a small fishing boat. His dreams of being a mighty ship and carrying kings had come to an end. The third tree was cut into large pieces and left alone in the dark. The years went by, and the trees forgot about their dreams.

Then one day, a man and woman came to the barn. She gave birth and they placed the baby in the hay in the feed box that was made from the first tree. The man wished that he could have made a crib for the baby, but this manger would have to do. The tree could feel the importance of this event and knew that it had held the greatest treasure of all time. Years later, a group of men got in the fishing boat made from the second tree. One of them was tired and went to sleep. While they were out on the water, a great storm arose and the tree didn't think it was strong enough to keep the men safe. The men woke the sleeping man, and he stood and said "Peace" and the storm stopped. At this time, the tree knew that it had carried the King of Kings in its boat.

Finally, someone came and got the third tree. It was carried through the streets as the people mocked the man who was carrying it. When they came to a stop, the man was nailed to the tree and raised in the air to die at the top of a hill. When Sunday came, the tree came to realize that it was strong enough to stand at the top of the hill and be as close to God as was possible, because Jesus had been crucified on it.

The moral of this story is that when things don't seem to be going your way, always know that God has a plan for you. If you place your trust in Him, He will give you great gifts. Each of the trees got what they wanted, just not in the way they had imagined. We don't always know what God's plans are for us. We just know that His ways are not our ways, but His ways are always best.


 
 
Title: Re: Moral Stories
Post by: SS91 on October 05, 2008, 02:18:53 PM
How the Ketaki Fell from Grace

 
Once while Vishnu and Brahma were quarrelling about which of them was superior to the other, Shiva, in the form of a column of light,appeared beside them. The column seemed to have no beginning or end, stretching upwards and downwards as far as the eye could see. The two gods decided that whoever found the top or the bottom of the column first would be deemed to be superior to the other.


So they set out, Vishnu in the form of a boar, and Brahma in the form of a swan. Vishnu descended for aeons together, but could not find the base of the column, and finally gave up the search. Brahma, soaring upwards, was equally unsuccessful in reaching the top. He saw a ketaki flower wafting down, and catching it, returned to the starting point where Vishnu was waiting for him.
Then followed a spot of duplicity. Brahma, claiming success, waved the flower, which he said he had found at the summit, in Vishnu’s face. Vishnu doubted his claim. He asked the ketaki if what Brahma said was true. The flower said it was.

The barefaced lie infuriated Shiva, and he cursed the flower (another version says the flower refused to substantiate Brahma’s claim and that it was Brahma who cursed it). The ketaki, till then considered the best among flowers, lost its importance and was never again offered in worship except on Mahashivratri when it makes a shy appearance.


 
Title: Re: Moral Stories
Post by: SS91 on November 01, 2008, 05:18:32 PM
The Boys and the Frogs

Some boys, playing near a pond, saw a number of Frogs

in the water and began to pelt them with  stones.

They killed several of them, when one of the Frogs, lifting his head out of the water, cried out:

"Pray stop, my boys: what is sport to you, is death to us."

One man's pleasure may be another's pain.  
Title: Re: Moral Stories
Post by: SS91 on November 01, 2008, 05:30:12 PM
THE BRAHMIN'S GIFT  


Once there lived a pious brahmin in a village. He used to perform religious rituals. On one occasion he was rewarded with a cow by a rich man for his service. The brahmin started to bring the cow to his home. On the way, three rogues saw the brahmin bringing the cow. They were lazy and wanted to cheat the brahmin so that they could take away the cow. They hatched a plan.

The first person approached the brahmin and said, "Are you a washerman that you're pulling a donkey." The brahmin was annoyed at being mistaken for a washerman. He went on. A little later he was met by the second of the three. The second person asked him why being a brahmin he needed to pull a pig. Now the brahmin was confused but he went on. Some distance later he was met by the third person who asked him why he was pulling along a wild animal. Now the brahmin was totally confused and also afraid. He thought that it was a devil animal which took different forms. He ran away leaving the cow behind. The three tricksters laughed at the brahmin at having obtained the cow from the brahmin.


OM SAI RAM.
Title: Re: Moral Stories
Post by: SS91 on November 08, 2008, 12:20:10 PM
The jackal who saved the lion


Once upon a time there was a lion in a jungle. Once when he had gone to drink water in a stream, his feet got stuck into the wet slushy mud of the stream and he could not get out. He had to lie without food for days like that as he saw no help coming by. One day, a kind jackal came by and the jackal dug a way out from the sand and with the extra force from the lion helped him get out of the slush and set him free. The lion was grateful for this and thanked the jackal for the saving of his life. He then offered the jackal to live close to him and also promised to feed him whenever he caught food. So the jackal started living with the lion and they shared the hunt. Soon they expanded their families and had cubs and kid jackals.

After a long time, the lioness, lady of the lion's house, grew tired of the friendship of the jackal and her master. She conveyed the message to her cubs who conveyed the message to the jackal kids who complained to the lady jackal. The lady jackal told of this to her husband. The jackal went to the lion, and told him that if he did not want the jackal to stay with him, he should have told him long time back.


The lion was surprised at this and assured the jackal that no such ill-feelings exsited between the lion and the jackal and assured him that he would talk to the lioness. But the wise jackal then said, "Friend, I know you are sincere. But our families may not exactly reciprocate the same level of friendship. So let us stay apart, and meet often as friends and even may be kill together. But it is better if our family stays apart from yours." The lion agreed to this and the two familes parted as friends and the jackal and the lion were still close friends and used to go for kills together.


Moral: Dont expect your family to reciprocate the same level of friendship you have with someone.
Title: Re: Moral Stories
Post by: SS91 on November 08, 2008, 06:38:24 PM
DON'T CHANGE THE WORLD


Once upon a time, there was a kind who ruled a Prosperous country.
One day, he went for a trip to some distant areas of his country.
When he was back to his palace, he complained that his feet were very painful,
because it was the first time that he went for such a long trip, and the road that he
went through was very rough and stony.
He then ordered his people to cover every road of the entire country with leather.
Definitely, this would need thousands of cows’ skin, and would cost a huge amount of money.
Then one of his wise servants dared himself to tell the king,
“Why do you have to spend that unnecessary amount of money?
Why don’t you just cut a little piece of leather to cover your feet?”
The king was surprised, but he later agreed to his suggestion, to make a “shoe” for himself.


There is actually a valuable lesson of life in this story: to make this world a happy
place to live, you better change yourself - your heart; and not the world.

Title: Re: Moral Stories
Post by: SS91 on November 08, 2008, 06:41:22 PM
THE TRAVELERS AND THE PLANE TREE


Two men were walking along one summer day.
Soon it became too hot to go any further and, seeing a large plane tree nearby, they threw themselves on the ground to rest in its shade.
Gazing up into the branches one man said to the other:
“What a useless tree this is. It does not have fruit or nuts that
we can eat and we cannot even use its wood for anything.”
“Don’t be so ungrateful,” rustled the tree in reply.
“I am being extremely useful to you at this very moment, shielding you from the hot sun.
And you call me a good-for-nothing!”

All of God’s creations have a good purpose.
Islam teaches us that we should never belittle Allah’s blessings.
Title: Re: Moral Stories
Post by: Dipika on November 08, 2008, 06:43:26 PM
GOD IS EVERYWHERE

Once upon a time, there was a framer called Datadin. He used to tell bedtime stories to his son, Gopal. One night he told his son never to forget that God is everywhere and notices all our work. After some days, there was a famine. Nothing grew in Datadin's field. One day, he went to another farmer's field to steal grain. He told Gopal, "Look around. If somebody comes to this side, inform me". As soon as Datadin started to cut grain, Gopal said, "Wait father, somebody is here". Datadin looked around and asked his son, "Where is he?" Gopal said, "You told me God is everywhere and sees whatever we are doing. Will he not see you stealing the grain?" Datadin was ashamed and he kept the grain back and returned home empty-handed


ALLAH MALIK!

Sai baba let your holy lotus feet be our sole refuge.OMSAIRAM
Title: Re: Moral Stories
Post by: SS91 on November 08, 2008, 06:46:36 PM
LEARN FROM MISTAKES

Thomas Edison tried two thousand different materials in search of a filament for the light bulb.
When none worked satisfactorily, his assistant complained,
“All our work is in vain.
We have learned nothing.”
Edison replied very confidently, “Oh, we have come a long way and we have learned a lot.
We now know that there are two thousand elements which we cannot use to make a
good light bulb.”

JaiShirdi Sai
Title: Re: Moral Stories
Post by: SS91 on November 08, 2008, 06:50:28 PM

THE BOY WHO CRIED 'WOLF'


Once there was a shepherd boy who had to look after a flock of sheep.
One day, he felt bored and decided to play a trick on the villagers.
He shouted, “Help! Wolf! Wolf!”
The villagers heard his cries and rushed out of the village to help the shepherd boy.
When they reached him, they asked, “Where is the wolf?”
The shepherd boy laughed loudly, “Ha, Ha, Ha! I fooled all of you.
I was only playing a trick on you.”
A few days later, the shepherd boy played this trick again.
Again he cried, “Help! Help! Wolf! Wolf!”
Again, the villagers rushed up the hill to help him and again they found that boy had tricked them. They were very angry with him for being so naughty.
Then, some time later, a wolf went into the field.
The wolf attacked one sheep, and then another and another.
The shepherd boy ran towards the village shouting, “Help! Help! Wolf! Help!
Somebody!”
The villagers heard his cries but they laughed because they thought it was another trick.
The boy  ran to the nearest villager and said, “A wolf is attacking the sheep.
I lied before, but this time it is true!”
Finally, the villagers went to look.
It was true.
They could see the wolf running away and many dead sheep lying on the grass.

We may not believe someone who often tells lies, even when he tells the truth.
Title: Re: Moral Stories
Post by: Dipika on November 08, 2008, 06:56:14 PM
THE FRUITS OF GOOD WORK

Once, there was a lion living in the forest. One day, a thorn got stuck in his paw. He tried his best to pull it out, but he could not pull it. The lion went with difficulty to a sheep boy. The sheep boy was afraid to see the lion coming towards him, but he did not run away and sat there quietly. The lion did not roar but sat quietly near the sheep boy and put his paw in front of him. He saw the thorn in his paw and pulled it out. The lion went quietly towards the forest. After some time, there was a theft in the King's palace. Some enemies of the sheep boy said to the king that he was the thief. Hearing this, the King became very angry and ordered the sheep boy's house to be searched. They did not find any stolen things in his house. The King thought that he had hidden the stolen things somewhere else. Therefore, he ordered to put him alive before a lion. When the sheep boy was thrown before the lion, it sat still. The sheep boy recognized it immediately. It was the same lion that had come to him. The king was very surprised when he came to know of the lion's gratefulness to the sheep boy. Then the king ordered the sheep boy to be set free. A fierce animal, like the lion, never forgets the good deed done to it. But the human beings who forget the good done to them are worse then animals.

ALLAH MALIK!

Sai baba let your holy lotus feet be our sole refuge.OMSAIRAM
Title: Re: Moral Stories
Post by: SS91 on November 08, 2008, 07:03:27 PM
THE FARMER AND THE STORK

Finding that cranes were destroying his newly sown corn, a farmer
one evening set a net in his field to catch the destructive birds.
When he went to examine the net next morning he found a number of cranes and also a stork.
“Release me, I beseech you,” cried the stork, “for I have eaten none of your corn,
nor have I done you any harm.
I am a poor innocent stork, as you may see - a most dutiful bird, I honor my father and mother.
I...” But the farmer cut him short. “All this may be true enough, I dare say,
but I have caught you with those were destroying my crops,
and you must suffer with the company in which you are found.”

People are judged by the company they keep.
Title: Re: Moral Stories
Post by: SS91 on November 17, 2008, 07:05:43 PM
Frog and Toad

A toad and a frog were sitting on the front stoop criticizing each others looks.

Each thought himself beautiful and the other ugly.

While they were posturing, a girl happened by and was disgusted by both.

"Yeaccchh!!" she screamed, and she stomped on each and ran away.

Title: Re: Moral Stories
Post by: SS91 on November 19, 2008, 11:03:02 AM


Wise Old Man


A wealthy man requested an old scholar to wean his son away from his bad habits.

The scholar took the youth for a stroll through a garden. Stopping suddenly he asked the boy to pull out a tiny plant growing there. The youth held the plant between his thumb and forefinger and pulled it out. The old man then asked him to pull out a slightly bigger plant. The youth pulled hard and the plant came out, roots and all.

“Now pull out that one,” said the old man pointing to a bush. The boy had to use all his strength to pull it out.

“Now take this one out,” said the old man, indicating a guava tree. The youth grasped the trunk and tried to pull it out. But it would not budge.

“I – It’s impossible,” said the boy, panting with the effort.

“So it is with bad habits,” said the sage. “When they are young it is easy to pull them out but when they take hold they cannot be uprooted.”


The session with the old man changed the boy’s life.

Title: Re: Moral Stories
Post by: SS91 on November 22, 2008, 07:04:01 PM
]Gifts and Grace[/


  We should guard  against  greatest sin of ingratitude towards God.

Once Jesus was walking along the streets of a city. It was a slum area. He saw a young man rolling in dirt, dead drunk. He went to him, sat by his side and woke him up. The young man opened his eyes and saw Jesus. Jesus asked him: "Son! Why are you wasting your precious youth in drinking?" The young man replied: "Master!, I was a leper. You cured me of my leprosy. What else can I do?" Jesus heaved a sigh and walked away.

In another street he saw a man madly pursuing a beautiful woman. Jesus caught hold of him and asked him: "Son! Why do you desecrate your body by indulging in such a sinful act?" The man replied: "Master! I was really blind. You gave me vision. What else can I do?"

Jesus trudged along another street. He saw an old man crying bitterly. Jesus approached him and gently touched him. The old man wiped his tears and looked at Jesus. Jesus questioned him: "Why are you weeping old man?" The old man said: "Master! I was nearly dead. You granted me life. What else can I do except weep in this old age?"

In times of difficulty and distress, we cry out for God's help. But when God, out of His boundless love and compassion, responds to our prayer, we ignore Him and fall back into our self-centered life. One must guard oneself against this greatest sin of ingratitude towards God.

 

Title: Re: Moral Stories
Post by: SS91 on November 22, 2008, 07:06:37 PM
Once Sathyabhama and Rukmini questioned Lord Krishna: "Why do you always make much of the devotion of Draupadi? Is she that great?" The Lord replied with a smile, "I shall let you know by and by."

One day, Draupadi came to visit her dear brother Krishna and she was given a suite of rooms. Krishna called Sathyabhama and Rukmini and said: "Let us go to Draupadi's apartment." Draupadi welcomed them with love and excitement. She had just taken oil bath, her long tresses were hanging loose. She was combing her hair. The lord looked at his queens and said: "See! my sister seems to find it difficult to comb her long tresses. Why don't you both help her?" Sathyabhama and Rukmini readily agreed. The tresses were parted, one half was taken care by Sathyabhama and the other by Rukmini. While they were combing, they heard from every hair, "Krishna", "Krishna", in a soft tone. They were surprised and looked at Krishna as if to say they had understood Draupadi's devotion. Krishna sat still enjoying the scene.

True devotion is silent and avoids display.
Title: Re: Moral Stories
Post by: SS91 on November 30, 2008, 12:15:42 PM
Food and drink for you

Once Swami Vivekananda was in a certain town to give spiritual discourses. People recognised in him a great monk and profound scholar. They listened to his discourses with rapt attention for about three days. Every day, when the discourse came to an end, some people used to gather around him to ask about certain subtle points on Sadhana, Ethics and Sastras. Students were eager to know about national regeneration and the solutions he could suggest.

There was an old man sitting in a corner observing Vivekananda with avidity but could not speak one word. He was there all the three days, waiting for a chance to be near the monk. On the third day he made bold, went to him and said: "Son! Shall I bring you something to eat? These people never gave you anything nor did they give you time to relax and think about your food. I shall run and be back with food and drink for you." Vivekananda was greatly touched by the loving words spoken by the old man. He said with a beaming smile: "Come, let us go together to your place to eat and drink." Blessed indeed was the old man for he had sympathy and consideration for a fellow human being. He was ready to render loving service to the monk. This indeed is true devotion and he is indeed a true devotee.

Jaisairam.
Title: Re: Moral Stories
Post by: SS91 on December 15, 2008, 03:02:51 PM
 
 

   Buying a good horse

 

There was a king who was willing to pay a thousand pieces of gold for a horse that could run a thousand mile without stopping. For three years he tried in vain to find such a steed.

Then someone offered Let me look for a horse for Your Majesty.

The king agreed to this.

After three months this man came back, having spent five hundred pieces of gold on a horse's skull.

The king was most enraged.

I want a live horse he roared. What use is a dead horse to me ? Why spend five hundred pieces of gold on nothing ?

But the man replied if you will spend five hundred pieces of gold on a dead horse, won't you give much more for a live one? When people hear of this, they will know you are really willing to pay for a good horse, and will quickly send you their best.

Sure enough, in less than a year the king succeeded in buying three excellent horses.

in vain
 If you do something in vain, you are critical of their extreme pride in their own beauty, intelligence, or other good qualities.
 
 
 
 
Title: Re: Moral Stories
Post by: SS91 on December 17, 2008, 01:08:50 PM
Frog and Toad


A toad and a frog were sitting on the front stoop criticizing each others looks.

Each thought himself beautiful and the other ugly.

While they were posturing, a girl happened by and was disgusted by both.

"Yeaccchh!!" she screamed, and she stomped on each and ran away.

Title: Re: Moral Stories
Post by: SS91 on December 18, 2008, 11:23:24 AM
:)  FRIEND TURNS ENEMY:


Ganga Dutt was the king of Frogs, their kingdom being the huge stone well in the forest. He had grown old with time and got all his children married off within the community.

As he grew older, his son-in-laws held a meeting and decided to overthrow him. They even challenged him to fight them one by one.

For Ganga Dutt it was a matter of honor and he took up the challenge. But he had grown weak with age and all his years of experience were useless. They beat him up until he had to leave the well-his kingdom, and run a way.

As he rested after going some distance, his body ached with pain but his mind was as sharp as ever. He remembered the lesson his father had taught him," To beat a strong enemy make friends with a strong one". So he looked around for someone who would assist him in his fight.

Suddenly he saw a huge old black snake sunning himself near his hole. He hit upon the idea of seeking his help and approached him with folded hands. "O mighty Cobra!" He pleaded, " I have come to be your friend."

 Now the cobra was also very old and experienced. He peered at the strange creature before him and decided, 'He belongs to another species and seeks friendship for selfish reasons'. Loudly he asked,  "Who are you? Why have you come to be my friend?"

The Frog said, " Dear friend, I am a frog King and I have been run out of my kingdom by my enemies as I have grown old and weak. The life of my son and wife are in danger and I seek your help."

"How can I help you Frog King?" asked the snake.

"Please come with me and eat all the frogs I point out. Thus my enemies will be finished and I can reign in peace" said Ganga Dutt.

The snake considered this offer. He had also grown old and could not catch bigger prey and it would be a comfort not be hungry for a few days.

He said, " I accept your friendship, O king! Lead the way to your kingdom."

Ganga Dutt was very happy. He romped and skipped on his way to the well. As soon as the snake reached the well, the frogs were frightened and tried to run away. But Ganga Dutt pointed out the leaders and before they could escape, the snake had gobbled them up.

Now, the snake found the frog's easy prey also liked the taste. He started catching them at random and gobbled them up.

Ganga Dutt cried in vain and tried to stop him but he was hit hard by one lash of the snake's tail and lay dead.

LESSON: "Be careful of friendship with one of unknown character. It may end with your own doom."


Title: Re: Moral Stories
Post by: SS91 on December 28, 2008, 04:51:18 PM
The story of the Monkey

 

Construction of a temple was on outside a town. Near the site, a huge wooden log was being split. At the lunch, the workers fixed a wedge between the split wood and went to dine. A monkey had been watching the activities of the workers since morning. When the workers were away, the monkey descended from the tree and began to meddle with that log of wood. During the play, he saw the wedge and began to withdraw it. But he forgot that his tail was hanging between the split ends of the log. As soon as the wedge was out, the split ends closed squeezing the tail of the monkey. The monkey tried hard to get himself free but in vain. No help was available nearby. By the time, the workers returned from their lunch, the monkey had died.

.

MORAL: Do not meddle in things that don't concern you

 
Title: Re: Moral Stories
Post by: SS91 on January 23, 2009, 07:42:25 PM
UNTIMELY MUSIC:


 An Ass and a jackal were good friends and lived in the forests near Telari village. Both would enter the farmer's fields silently in the night and choose the best to eat. After having their fill, they would slink away before dawn.

There were several crops of pumpkin and watermelon in the farms and whilst the Ass had a good dinner of them, the jackal would catch the numerous fat and big rodents infesting the fields. They both became stronger every day and their coats shined until the others looked on them in envy.

The other animals decided that their friendship should be rifted and made plans accordingly. Whilst the jackal slept in his lair during day and the Ass munched grass, the wolf came near him and said, " Dear Ass! I never knew that you sing so well. Your braying sounds like the Ragas of the court singer and I believe that you are an expert in all the Ragas. Today is Full Moon and we animals have to make a request. We would like to hear your music tonight."

The Ass was bloated with pride" I know that I sing very well, but it is the jackal who will not listen to any sound at night when we are in the fields."

The wolf replied, " This proves he is not your true friend and is jealous of you. However we will be there to appreciate your artful music but not visible just so that your friend is not annoyed."

Come night, both friends entered the fields of corn and melons. The moon bathed the earth in milky white and the air was scented with the smell of mahua flowers. All this created a heady combination and the Ass was suddenly inspired to sing.

He let the jackal know of his intentions to which the jackal replied, " Dear Friend! It is a fool only, who is flattered by falsities and it is an enemy who falsely flatters another. We have come here to steal our food and stealing is done silently which is of utmost importance here. How badly you sing is not a matter of dispute here, so please do the job at hand and escape. You can sing when you reach the forest."

The Ass was offended and refused to listen to reason. He again got ready to start singing.

The jackal saw that his friend was not ready to be reasonable and said, " Dear friend! It appears that my advice has agitated you, which was not my intention at all. Please do what you have to but first give me five minutes to reach the forest."

The Ass laughed at this foolish request and said, "Please leave now. I have today been made aware of true friendship. An artist can only be friends which another of similar nature. But do inform the others to be attentive as I will start singing in five minutes."

The jackal ran for life and soon the Ass started braying. The loud and harsh sound woke up the farmers who surrounded the farm. As they caught the Ass, they beat him up thoroughly and took him to the village where they used him as a beast of burden for the rest of his life.


LESSON:  ' One who flatters is not your well wisher. Ill - timed music will fetch bad results.'
Title: Re: Moral Stories
Post by: SS91 on February 11, 2009, 04:41:29 PM
Apple Tree  

 
A long time ago, there was a huge apple tree. A little boy loved to come and play around it everyday. He climbed to the tree top, ate the apples,took a nap under the shadow... He loved the tree and the tree loved to play with him.

Time went by... the little boy had grown up and he no longer played around the tree everyday. One day, the boy came back to the tree and he looked sad. "Come and play with me," the tree asked the boy. "I am no longer a kid, I don't play around trees anymore." The boy replied, "I want toys. I need money to buy them." "Sorry, but I don't have money...but you can pick all my apples and sell them. So, you will have money." The boy was so excited. He grabbed all the apples on the tree and left happily. The boy never came back after he picked the apples. The tree was sad.

One day, the boy returned and the tree was so excited. "Come and play with me" the tree said. "I don't have time to play. I have to work for family. We need a house for shelter. Can you help me?" "Sorry, but I don't have a house. But you can chop off my branches to build your house." So the boy cut all the branches of the tree and left happily. The tree was glad to see him happy but the boy never came back since then. The tree was again lonely and sad.

One hot summer day, the boy returned and the tree was delighted. "Come and play with me!" the tree said. "I am sad and getting old. I want to go sailing to relax myself. Can you give me a boat?" "Use my trunk to build your boat. You can sail far away and be happy." So the boy cut the tree trunk to make a boat. He went sailing and never showed up for a long time.

Finally, the boy returned after he left for so many years. "Sorry, my boy. But I don't have anything for you anymore. No more apples for you..." the tree said. "I don't have teeth to bite" the boy replied. "No more trunk for you to climb on" "I am too old for that now" the boy said. "I really can't give you anything ... the only thing left is my dying roots" the tree said with tears. "I don't need much now, just a place to rest. I am tired after all these years." The boy replied. "Good! Old tree roots is the best place to lean on and rest. Come, Come sit down with me and rest."

The boy sat down and the tree was glad and smiled with tears.......



Lesson: This is a story of everyone. The tree is our parent. No matter what, parents will always be there and give everything they could to make you happy.   
Title: Re: Moral Stories
Post by: SS91 on February 18, 2009, 01:55:27 PM
Story of The Devoted Son


Jamadagni was a Great Rishi. He lived a pious life with his wife Renuka. One day Renuka and the rishi were making a shivalinga from clay.

Just as they were giving in the finishing touches, Renuka’s concentration was distracted by the sound of hooves. The shadow of the Kshatriya king who rode that way fell on the shivalinga.

Rishi Jamadagni who noticed the loss of concentration of his wife was enraged. He called his eldest son.

“Your mother must be killed now,” the rishi ordered. But Jamadagni’s son refused to kill her.

The rishi then called his second son. The second son wanted to know why he should kill an innocent woman who was also his mother.

Jamadagni then called his third son. “Cut off your mother’s head now,” he ordered. The third son was Parashurama. Without a word Parashurama beheaded his mother. Jamadagni was pleased. ‘Ask for two boons and it shall be yours. I am pleased with you,” said the rishi to Parashurama.

“Father”, said Parashurama, “bring mother back to life. I know not why you wanted her beheaded but let her not remember what caused her death.”

Jamadagni granted his son’s wishes. Renuka was brought back to life.

In later years Parashurama came to be known for both his valour and anger. He lost out in a battle of strength to Rama. He handed over his weapons to Rama and renounced the world.
Title: Re: Moral Stories
Post by: SS91 on February 19, 2009, 09:28:29 AM
Story of The Cunning Mediator


A sparrow was living in the hollow of a big tree that I had made my home. His name was Kapinjala. We became good friends and used to spend our time discussing characters in our literature and the unusual things we saw in our travels. One day, my friend left the tree with other sparrows in search of food and did not return even after nightfall. I began to worry. “What happened to him? Did any hunter take him away? He never leaves my company even for a while.”

Days passed without any trace of my friend Kapinjala. One fine morning, a hare named Sighragha, came and silently occupied the hollow that my friend made his home. It did not worry me because there was no word about Kapinjala and I had lost all hopes of his return. But one day, he returned looking healthier than he was when he had left and found that the hare had taken his place.

Kapinjala told the hare, “O hare, what you have done is improper. You have displaced me. Leave the place immediately.”

Sighragha hit back saying, “What are you talking? This is my place. Haven’t you heard the elders saying that nobody has rights over a public well, a temple, a pond and a tree? Whoever enjoys land for more than ten years also becomes its owner. That needs no evidence or documents of proof. This place is not yours any more.”

The sparrow told him, “Oh, you are quoting legal scriptures! Let us go to an expert in law and ethics. We will abide by his ruling.”

The hare agreed to this proposal and both of them went in search of an expert. Curious to see what would happen, I also followed them. Meanwhile, word about their quarrel had reached a wicked and wild cat. Knowing the route that the hare and the sparrow would take, the cat set up a camp on the way. He spread a mat of grass on the ground and went into a posture of meditation. Facing the sun and raising his hands in worship, the cat began reciting scriptures,

“This world has no essence. Life is passing. All liaisons with lovers are like a dream. Your ties with the family are illusory. There is no alternative to following the right path. The learned have said,”

“This wretched body will soon perish
Material wealth is not permanent
Death is knocking at your door
Free thyself from earthly chains
He who abandons the right path
Is the same as the living dead.”

“I will end this long discourse and tell you in a nutshell what the right path is. Doing good to others is virtue. Tormenting others is vice. This is the essence of our philosophy. I am in the service of God and have given up all desires. I will not do you any harm. After hearing your account, I will decide who among you is the rightful owner of the place in the tree. But I am now very old and cannot hear you properly. So, please come close to me and narrate your story.”

When the poor and innocent sparrow and hare came within the reach of the cat, he pounced on them and grabbed the sparrow in his teeth and slashed the body of the hare with his jaws and killed them.


Moral of the Story :


If you will choose a wicked mediator, you will destroy yourself.
Title: Re: Moral Stories
Post by: SS91 on February 20, 2009, 02:46:47 PM
Story of The Brahmin and the crooks


Mitra Sarma was a Brahmin living in a small village. He used to daily worship Fire. It was the month of Magha (February). The sky was full of clouds and it had already started raining. Sarma left for a neighbouring village at that time to seek the gift of a sacrificial lamb from some rich man. He called on a well-to-do man in the village and requested him to make him a gift of a healthy lamb for sacrifice to Gods. The wealthy man gave him one of the well-fed lambs he had.

Carrying the lamb on his shoulders, the Brahmin began his homeward journey. Three crooks, very hungry and emaciated, crossed his path and seeing the healthy lamb on the Brahmin’s shoulders thought, “Ah, God has sent us good food. Let us trick the Brahmin into parting with it and free us from hunger and cold.” At once, they began to act.

One of them changed into a disguise, and overtaking the Brahmin by another route, stopped him and said, “O what a fool you are? Such a great worshipper of Fire, why are you carrying this dog on your shoulders? This will bring you ridicule. Don’t you know that it is a sin to touch a dog, or a rooster, or a donkey?”

The Brahmin lost his temper and said, “You stupid fellow, are you blind? Why do you call a lamb a dog?”

The first crook replied, “Don’t be angry, if you think he is not a dog, please carry on. I have no objection.”

The Brahmin hardly walked a little distance when the second crook greeted him and said,

“O respected sir, it is highly regrettable that you are carrying a dead calf on your shoulders, however dear it is to you. The man who touches dead animals or birds has to undergo purification rites.”

The Brahmin challenged him, “Are you too blind? This is a live sacrificial lamb and you say he is a dead calf.”

The second crook said, “All right, sir. Please excuse me. I am an ignorant fool. Do as it pleases you.”

Now it was the turn of the third crook to cross the Brahmin’s path.

Turning to the Brahmin, the crook said, “Sir, it is highly improper. You are carrying a donkey on your shoulders. This is not done. The elders have said he who touches a donkey, knowingly or otherwise, has to take a bath fully dressed. So, please leave him before anybody notices it.”

Thinking that he was really carrying a donkey, the poor Brahmin threw the lamb to the ground and went home.




Moral of the Story :


The learned have said that men with great common sense and a little bit of cunning can subdue stronger enemies like the tricksters who cheated the gullible Brahmin of his lamb
 
   
Title: Re: Moral Stories
Post by: SS91 on February 21, 2009, 10:02:45 AM
Story of The Brahmin and Cobra



Haridatta was a Brahmin living in a hamlet. He was a farmer but the piece of land he cultivated gave him very little to survive. One day, unable to stand the heat of the summer sun, he went to a big tree in his land to rest for a while. Before he could spread himself on the ground he saw in the nearby anthill a huge cobra swaying with his hood open.

He thought, “This cobra must really be the Goddess of this land. I have never worshipped her, which is why I am not able to get anything from the land. From today, I will worship her.”

At once he went back to his village and returned with a glass full of milk.

He poured it in a bowl and turning to the anthill said, “O ruler of the land, I did not know you were living in this anthill. That is why I have not paid my tribute to you. Please excuse me and accept this humble offering.”

He then placed the bowl of milk at the anthill and left the place.

Next day when the Brahmin came to his land before the Sun was up, he saw a gold coin in the bowl he had left at the anthill. Henceforth, he came alone every dawn, collected the coin, offered the milk in the bowl and left. One day the Brahmin, leaving for another village on business, asked his son to go to the anthill and offer milk. When the son went the next day, he found a gold coin in the bowl.

He collected the coin and thought, “This anthill must be full of gold. If I kill the cobra, I can collect all the gold in one go instead of coming here every day.”

He then struck the cobra with a big stick. But the cobra deftly dodged the blow but stung the son to death with his poisonous fangs. Returning to his village the next day, Haridatta heard the story of his son’s death and at once realised that greed was behind it.

The Brahmin went to the anthill the day after his son’s cremation and offered milk to the cobra. Without coming out of his hole, the cobra told Haridatta,

“You have come here for gold forgetting that you had lost a son and that you were in mourning. The reason is greed, pure greed. From today, there is no meaning in our relationship. Blinded by his youth, your son has struck me and I bit him back. How can I forget that blow? How can you suffer the grief of your son’s death? Finally, I am giving you this diamond, don’t come back again.”


Moral of the Story :

It is always better to destroy the enemy before he acquires strength. Such opportunities come once in a while. If you lose it now, you will never get it back.
 
 
   
Title: Re: Moral Stories
Post by: SS91 on February 21, 2009, 03:56:25 PM
Story of The Hunter and Doves


Once upon a time there lived a merciless hunter in the heart of a forest, terrorizing birds and animals. Because of his cruel nature he had no friends or relatives. The elders have said,


It is unwise to be close to
Men who are wicked and cruel.
Avoid such heinous persons as
You avoid poisonous snakes.”



The hunter went out into the forest every morning with a stick and net. One day, he threw his net and trapped a female dove in it. Soon, thick and black clouds appeared in the sky and it began raining cats and dogs. Scared and shivering, the hunter looked for shelter and found it under a huge banyan tree. The rain and wind stopped suddenly. The skies became clear with stars shining. The hunter said loudly,

“If there is anyone on the tree, I seek shelter and food from him. I am hungry and may faint any moment. Please save me.”

At the same time, a dove that had his nest on the same tree was worried that his wife who had gone out had not come back. He prayed to Gods that his wife should not come to any harm in this wind and rain. He began telling himself,

“Blessed and happy is the man
With a caring and loving wife.
A home is not a home without a wife;
A wifeless home is like a jungle.”

The wife trapped in the hunter’s net heard her husband’s sorrowful words and, happy that her husband loved her so much, thought,

“Don’t call her a woman
Whose husband is unhappy;
Where happy husbands live
Heavens shower blessings.”

Later, addressing her husband, the female dove said, “Listen to me, my dear. Even at the cost of your life, you must come to the rescue of someone seeking shelter. This hunter is suffering from cold and hunger and has sought shelter under our tree. You must serve him with devotion. Don’t hate him because he has trapped your beloved wife. In reality, the strings of destiny have bound me. Give up all thoughts of revenge and serve the hunter with care.”

In accordance with his wife’s desire, the dove suppressed grief and told the hunter, “Sir, you are welcome to our modest home. Please let me know what I can do for you. Treat this as own home and feel free to command me.”

The hunter told the dove that he was suffering from cold and needed relief. The dove flew out, brought fire from somewhere and a lit a small fire with dry twigs and asked the hunter to warm himself.

The dove told the hunter, “Because of my past deeds, I am born poor and unfortunate and do not have enough to feed myself. What is the point in a host living if he cannot entertain a guest? It is better he renounce this world.”

Yet he thought that it was better to die than say no to a host. Determined to die, the dove told the hunter to wait for a while and that soon he will have food. Then circling over the fire, the dove jumped into the fire he lit for the benefit of the hunter.

Moved by this sacrifice, the hunter told himself, “I am responsible for this tragedy. I will no doubt go to hell. This dove is a great soul, he has shown me the right path. Hereafter, I will give up all wants and desires and slowly destroy this body. Nothing, neither cold nor sun nor wind, matters to me. I will fast and see my slow end.”

The hunter then threw his net and stick and released the female dove from the net.

The wife then saw how her husband had jumped into the fire to provide food for the hunter. She thought that life without her husband was worse than death and at once jumped into the same fire that consumed her husband. After her death, she saw her husband in the heaven wearing royal regalia.

On seeing her, the husband said, “O my darling, you have done well to follow me into the fire. Women like you live happily with their husbands for 35 million years.”

The dove couple lived happily ever after. The hunter, shunning worldly pleasures, went to a forest for realising God. As penance had cleansed him of all desires, the hunter burnt himself in a forest fire and attained nirvana.




Moral of the Story :

We should never kill a person seeking asylum.
Title: Re: Moral Stories
Post by: SS91 on February 25, 2009, 09:14:32 AM
Story of The Old Man, His young wife and Thief



There lived an old widowed merchant in a city in the south. Though old, he did not give up his desire for another wife. Therefore, he gave lots of money to a poor merchant and married his young daughter. She never loved her old husband. One day, when the husband and wife were sleeping on different sides of the bed, a thief entered their house. Shocked by the sight of the thief, the wife embraced her husband in fear.

The husband was both thrilled and surprised by the embrace and began thinking about what made her do so. He searched every nook and corner of the house and at last found the thief lurking in a corner. He then realised that his wife had embraced him because the thief had frightened her. The husband told the thief, “My dear young man, today I had the fortune of being hugged by my wife. Thanks to you. Take away whatever you want.”

The thief replied, “My dear sir, I do not find anything in your house that I could take with me. But I will come back soon and see if there is anything to carry away. Or, you could call whenever you need love from your wife.”



Moral of the Story :

Sometime even thief could do some good for someone, if you gave asylum.
Title: Re: Moral Stories
Post by: SS91 on February 27, 2009, 02:45:12 PM

Story of Brahmin, Thief and Monster

Drona was a poor Brahmin who was living in a small town. He was so poor that he never wore good clothes, or used cosmetics, or indulged in the luxury of eating apaan (betel leaves).He had matted hair, an unshaven beard and uncut nails. He was extremely weak and emaciated because he had no cover from cold, sun or wind or rain. Taking pity on him, a rich man donated two calves to him.

With all care and love, he fed them well with butter oil and grass. The calves grew into two fine and healthy animals. A thief set his eyes on them and decided that he should somehow steal them. As he set out for the Brahmin’s house, he saw on the way an awesome figure with loose teeth as long and sharp as fangs, an arched nose and blood-red eyes. He had a lean body with varicose veins and his hair and beard looked like two torches.

Though he was frightened, the thief asked him, “Who are you, sir?”
“I am Satyavachana, a monster. Let me know who you are.”

“I am a thief. My name is Kroorakarma. I am going to steal the calves of the Brahmin.”

The monster trusted the words of the thief and told him that he took only one meal a day in the evening and that he would kill the Brahmin for his dinner.

Both of them went to the Brahmin’s house that night and waited for the Brahmin to go to sleep. When they were sure that the Brahmin had slept, the monster stepped in to kill the poor Brahmin. The thief held him back saying it was unjust to kill the Brahmin before he (the thief) could take away the two calves.

The monster said, “If the sound of the resisting calves disturbs the sleep of the Brahmin, all our effort will be in vain.”

The thief replied, “Suppose there is some obstacle in your killing him, I cannot take the calves. Therefore, wait till I finish my job first.”

The thief and the monster began quarrelling about who should be the first to finish his job.

The Brahmin woke up due to the commotion they were making and asked them who they were and what was the matter.

The thief told him, “This monster wants to kill you.”

The monster denied and said, “O Brahmin, this thief wants to steal your calves.”

The Brahmin then invoked his deity through prayer and the power of the prayer forced the monster to flee. The Brahmin then took a stick and drove off the thief.



Moral of the Story :

If two rivals quarrel among themselves, we would be the beneficiaries
Title: Re: Moral Stories
Post by: SS91 on February 28, 2009, 03:37:22 PM
Story of Two Snakes


Once upon a time there was a king named Devasakti. He had a son who was very weakened growing weaker by the day. It was found that he had a snake in his stomach. Experts, physicians and surgeons tried to nurse him back to health without success. Dejected, the son left his palace one night and took shelter in a lonely and dilapidated temple in another town ruled by a monarch called Bali. Every day, the son would go out to beg and return to the temple in the night.

King Bali had two daughters who came of age. Following a tradition, the two daughters would get up every dawn and touch the feet of their father in reverence.

One day, after paying respects to the king one of his daughters said, “Victory to the king. We are happy in every way.”

The second daughter said, “O king, reap the harvest of your actions.”

The king, very angry at the words of the second daughter, called his ministers and told them, “Take this foul-mouthed woman away and marry her off to some stranger. Let her reap the consequences of her actions.”

In compliance with the orders of the king, the ministers took her away and married her without pomp or ceremony to Devasakti’s son living in the old temple. The daughter considered the king’s son as God’s gift and after persuading him, left for another country.

The princess and the son of Devasakti reached a city where they camped close to a lake. She asked her husband to take care of the camp and went into the city with her maids to buy daily needs like rice, salt, butter oil and vegetables. After shopping, she returned to the lake where she saw a surprising spectacle.

The prince was sleeping, resting his head on an anthill. The serpent in his stomach came out to breathe fresh air. Then another serpent emerged from the anthill for the same reason. Both of them glared at each other.

The anthill inmate said, “You wicked creature, why do you torment such a handsome prince.”

The other serpent retorted, “Why are you polluting the two golden urns in your hole.”

Thus in their row, they revealed the secrets of each other.

The serpent in the anthill told the other serpent, “Don’t be arrogant. Who does not know the secret of your death? If the prince drinks a concoction made of gruel and mustard you will die unsung.”

“Oh, is that so? You will also perish if someone pours hot oil or hot water in your anthill. Don’t be too proud,” said the serpent in the prince’s stomach.

The princess, who heard all that passed between the two serpents, poured hot oil into the anthill and took the two golden urns and gave the mustard concoction to her husband and killed the serpent inside his stomach. Both Divyasakti’s son and his daughter-in-law returned to his kingdom and lived happily ever after.


Moral of the Story :

Where there is no co-operation, people will perish.
 
   
Title: Re: Moral Stories
Post by: SS91 on March 01, 2009, 01:01:49 PM
Story of Three Brothers

Once upon a time, three sages, who were also brothers, chose a riverbank to do penance. Their names were Ekata, Dwita and Trita. The clothes they washed every day used to dry in the sky without a clothesline lest they should drop and become soiled. One day a kite was carrying a female frog like I (the kite) carried a female mouse.

Ekata saw this and shouted at the kite, “Leave it, Leave it.”

At once his clothes drying in the sky dropped down to the ground.

When Dwita saw this, he shouted at the kite, “Don’t leave it, Don’t leave it” and soon his clothes also came down hurtling.

When Trita saw that the clothes of his elder brothers fell down, he thought it would be better not to say anything and remained silent. That is why it is better not to notice the happenings around and concentrate on self.


Moral of the Story :

It is better not to notice the happenings around and concentrate on self.
Title: Re: Moral Stories
Post by: SS91 on March 04, 2009, 04:13:09 PM
Golden Droppings


On a big tree in the lap of a mountain lived a bird named Sindhuka. His droppings used to turn into gold as soon as they hit the ground. One day, a hunter came to the tree in search of prey and saw Sindhuka’s droppings hit the ground and turn into gold.

The hunter, struck by wonder, thought, “I have been hunting birds and small animals since I was a boy. I am now eighty years old. I have never seen in my life this kind of miracle.”

He decided to get the bird some how and set a noose for him. Not aware of the trap, the bird stayed on the branch merrily singing. Soon, the noose tightened and the hunter caught the bird and pushed him into his cage.

The hunter took it home and considered, “If the king comes to know of this wonder, he will certainly take away the bird from me. Instead, I will go to the king and present the unique bird to him.”

The hunter took the bird the following day to the king and presented it to him with great reverence. The king was extremely happy and told his men to keep the bird in safe custody and feed him with the best bird food. But his minister was reluctant to accept the bird.

He said, “O Rajah, There is no use in trusting the word of this hunter and accepting the bird. Has anyone seen a bird dropping gold? Therefore, I request you to release the bird from the cage.”

The king ordered the bird to be set free. As soon as the door of the cage opened, the bird perched himself on a nearby doorway and defecated. The dropping immediately turned into gold. Sindhuka then recited that line about fools, “First, I was a fool. Then the hunter and then the king and his ministers.”



Moral of the Story :
First, I was a fool. Then the hunter and then the king and his ministers.
Title: Re: Moral Stories
Post by: SS91 on March 06, 2009, 02:29:01 PM
Everything happens for the good  
 
In one of India's little kingdoms of long ago there lived a King who (like most of them) was fond of hunting in wild places. His Chief Advisor was a very intelligent man, and also a very optimistic one. He was famous for seeing the rosy side of things. In fact, so strong was his habit of finding good in everything that at times this annoyed his ruler.

One day when the King and his Advisor were on a hunting trip through a dense jungle which went on for miles, the King decided to have a fresh coconut for his breakfast, and, finding a coconut tree near at hand, with his sword cut down a coconut. But as luck would have it, his sword slipped in his hand and came crashing down on one of his toes, cutting it off! Limping over to his Advisor with loud shouts of pain, he was terribly shocked to hear the latter say, "Ah, that's wonderful!"

"What?!" yelled the King; "I cut off my toe and you say it is wonderful?"

"This is a real blessing," replied the Advisor. By now the King was furious, thinking the man was making fun of him.

"Take it from me," said his Advisor, "behind this apparent bad accident there is some good which we cannot now see." That was it! The King had noticed a dry well nearby, and being a strong man, he picked up his companion and just threw him into that well. Then he set out to limp back to his fortified town and castle.

This meant, however, walking through dense jungle, frequented by the wild tribes of those days, some of whom were headhunters. On his way the King met a band of those headhunters, who decided that, being royalty, he would make an excellent sacrifice for this month's festival. As you may imagine, the King did not feel at all honored by this decision. The warriors carried him to the tribal priest. It was the duty of this priest to approve all of the offerings that were to be presented. The priest was most particular to see that the item to be offered to the gods was perfect in all respects. While anointing the King's body the priest noticed that he was lacking one toe.

"I am sorry," he told the King, "but we cannot use you after all for this holy sacrifice. The gods will not accept anyone who is not whole-bodied. You will have to go." Naturally the King was delighted and began hobbling away toward his palace. Aha! he thought, so his Advisor had been right -- there was indeed a hidden blessing behind that accident. As fast as his wounded leg would allow, he turned around and went back to the well where he had left his counselor. There he was, standing down in the well and whistling happily to himself.

Now the king managed to reach down far enough to grasp the hand of the Advisor and with great effort to pull him up. Then he apologized for having doubted him and having thought him a fool.

"Oh how sorry I am that I threw you in there," said the King as he dusted off his courtier. "I was taken prisoner by some wild native headhunters who were about to make me a sacrifice victim. Then they saw that my toe was missing, and let me go. And you foretold all this, in a way. Can you ever forgive me?"

"You need not apologize at all; it was a blessing that you threw me down the well and left me there."

"Now, how are you going to make something positive out of that?" queried the King. "Well," said the other, "if I had been with you they would surely have taken me for their sacrifice."
 
 
 
Title: Re: Moral Stories
Post by: SS91 on March 07, 2009, 04:10:40 PM
Wedding of the Mouse

There was a hermitage belonging to the sage Salankayana. He went one morning to river Ganga to bathe. As he was reciting stanzas in praise of the Sun, he saw a kite carrying a mouse in its claws. At once, the sage aimed a stone at the kite. Hit by the stone, the kite released its prey and the mouse at once ran to the sage asking him for protection.

The kite addressed Salankayana and said, “O sage, you have hit me with a stone, which is not proper. Are you not afraid of God? Surrender that mouse to me or you will go to hell.”

The sage said, “You wretched bird, my duty is to save God’s creations, to punish the wicked, to respect the good, to honour the teacher and worship the Gods. Why do you preach all those irrelevant rules of conduct to me?”

The kite delivered a big lecture to the sage on the right path. “You have no idea of what is good and what is bad. God created all of us and at the time of creation also prescribed what should be our food. God has marked mice, other rodents and insects to be food for us. Why do you blame me for seeking what God has meant for me? There is nothing wrong for anyone to eat the food marked for him. The danger comes when one eats what is not food for him. What is meat for someone is poison for someone else.”

“It is not proper for sages to be violent. They are not presumed to notice what is happening around them. They are detached from this world. Nothing that happens in the material world should interest them. They should not discriminate between vice and virtue. They are above everything. But by your deed today you have lost all the gains of your penance.

The kite flew away disappointed.

The female mouse then prayed Salankayana, “O sage, please give me shelter in your hermitage. Otherwise, some wicked bird will kill me. I will spend the rest of my life with whatever leftovers you choose to feed me with.”

The female mouse’s prayer moved the sage but he thought that if he took her home, people would laugh at him. So, he turned the mouse into a beautiful girl and took her home.

“What is this you have brought,” asked the sage’s wife. Where did you bring this girl from?”

“She is a female mouse. She needed protection from wicked birds. That’s why I turned her into a girl and brought her home. You will need to shower all care on her. I will make her a mouse again,” said the sage.

“Please don’t do that,” pleaded his wife, “You have saved her life and therefore you have become her father. I don’t have a child. Since you are her father, she becomes my daughter.” The sage accepted her plea.

The girl grew into a beautiful woman and became an eligible bride. Salankayana told his wife, “The girl has come of age. It is not proper for her to remain in our house. The learned have said,

He who keeps an eligible bride in his house
Forfeits a place in heaven. So do his ancestors.

“It’s all right. Look for a boy,” said his wife.

Salankayana immediately summoned the Sun and told him, “This is my daughter. If she is willing to marry you, get ready to marry her.”

He then showed the Sun to his daughter and asked her if she would marry him. She said that the Sun was very hot and she would prefer someone else. The sage then summoned the God of Clouds, the God of Wind and the God of Mountains. The girl rejected every one of them on one ground or the other.

Then the God of Mountains told the sage, “The most suitable candidate for your daughter is a mouse. He is more powerful than I am.”

The sage then turned her into a mouse and gave her away to a king of mice in marriage.


Moral of the Story :

You are what you are, never ever try to change yourself in Greed or in jealousy.
 
       
Title: The Big Lion and the Little Rabbit
Post by: SS91 on March 10, 2009, 06:41:56 PM
The Big Lion and the Little Rabbit  

 
Once upon a time, there lived a big lion in a jungle. Every day he hunted and killed many animals to satisfy his hunger. The animals were worried that one day none of them would be left alive. They all decided to go to the lion and find a solution to this problem.

When the lion saw all the animals approaching, he was very happy as he thought that he would not have to take the trouble to hunt. He could just kill all the animals together once and for all.

One of the animals stopped him and pleaded that he listen to what they had to say first. He went on to explain that as the lion was king of the jungle, and all the other animals were his subjects, the lion would not be a king at all if he killed all his subjects. He would have no one left to rule over. He suggested that if the lion stayed home, one animal would surrender itself each day as food for the lion. The lion agreed to this offer on the condition that if they ever failed to send him an animal, he would go on a killing spree and finish all of them off.

From then on, each day an animal was sent to the lion and the lion was pleased.

One day it was the turn of a little rabbit to sacrifice his life to provide food for the lion. This little one did not want to be the lion's meal. He thought of a plan that would save his life as well as the lives of all the other animals in the jungle.

The rabbit slowly made his way to the lion's den. The lion was pacing up and down, extremely hungry. He was furious when all he saw was a little rabbit. He wanted to kill all the animals in a rage. The rabbit timidly explained that the animals had actually sent him six rabbits, but five of them were killed and devoured by another lion.

The lion roared in anger. He wanted to know who this other lion was who dared to steal his food. The rabbit stuttered that it was a very big lion. He had warned the other lion not to eat him as his king would be very angry and definitely come to fight him. The rabbit went on to say that that the other lion had called His Majesty an impostor and had challenged him to prove who was actually the king of the jungle. The lion was furious. He asked the rabbit to take him to the other lion as he wanted to kill him.

The little rabbit led the lion to a well and told him that the other lion was in there. The lion peered into the well and saw his own reflection. He thought it was the other lion. He let out a huge roar which echoed back at him. He immediately jumped into the well to attack what he thought was the other lion. The lion dashed his head against the rocks and drowned.

The jubilant little rabbit returned to other animals to spread the good news.
 


MORAL: Wit is superior to brute force.
 
 
Title: Re: Moral Stories
Post by: SS91 on March 22, 2009, 12:13:07 PM
Story of The Lion and Foolish Donkey


A lion named Karalakesara was living in a forest, loyally served by Dhoosaraka, a jackal that used to accompany the lion wherever he went. One day, an elephant badly injured the lion in a fight. The injuries were so serious that the lion could not go out hunting. As a result, the jackal also had to go without food. Both the master and the servant became very weak. Unable to bear hunger, the jackal pleaded with the lion to get him some food.

“You know my plight. I cannot move out of this place. However, if you manage to lure some animal to come here, I will kill him and both of us can have a good meal,” said the lion.

So, the jackal set out in search of some animal and saw a donkey feeding himself on weeds. The jackal approached him and said, “O my friend, please accept my regards. I have not seen you for a long time. You have become very weak. What is the reason?”

The donkey said in sad tones, “How shall I tell you my suffering? The washerman is tormenting me by placing too much weight on my back. He does not feed me at all. I exist on weeds. That is why my body is weak.”

The jackal said, “If that is the case, why don’t you come with me? I shall show you a place where you can have your heart’s fill of green and fresh grass. We can happily spend our time there.”

“You have given me good news. But there is a problem. We are domestic animals and you are all wild animals. One of them will certainly kill me,” said the donkey whose name was Lambakarna.

Allaying his fears, the jackal said, “O uncle, don’t say like that. This place is in my control. Nobody can enter this area. Just like you are suffering at the hands of the washerman, there are three female donkeys in this area, which are waiting for a suitable husband. They are all young and told me, “If you are really our uncle, go and get a suitable husband for us.” It is on that mission I have come here and seen you.”

The donkey replied, “If that is the case, let’s go now.”

That is why the elders have said,

“If the very thought of a woman
Brings ecstasy to a young man
How thrilled would he be?
If he actually is in her presence.”

In the end, the jackal and the donkey reached the forest and came to the lion. When Lambakarna saw the ailing Karalakesara, the lion, he began running away from him. The lion made a great effort to reach him and strike him with his paw but failed to get the donkey.

Angry at the lion’s failure, Dhoosaraka, the jackal protested, “O my lord, you are useless. If you cannot tackle a foolish donkey, how can you fight an elephant? I have now realised how powerful you are.”

Ashamed, the lion told the jackal quietly, “O my friend, I was not ready for attack. Otherwise, even an elephant cannot escape my strike.”

Satisfied, the jackal said, “All right, let us forget the past. I will bring the donkey here again. You must be ready and strike him this time.”

“But how can Lambakarna forget his experience and come back here again,” asked the lion.

“You leave it to me,” said the jackal and set off to look for the donkey. Lambakarna was there on the bank of a lake feeding on grass.

He came to the jackal and said, “Friend, you have taken me to a nice place. I escaped death by inches. Who is that animal who had nearly killed me?”

“You are mistaken,” said Dhoosaraka, “It is, after all, the female donkey I promised to take you to. She was getting up to come and embrace you. You ran away in scare. She cannot live without you and so was trying to reach out to you. She told me that if you do not marry her, she would commit suicide. So please come and spare me the sin of causing the death of a woman. The God of Love will punish you if you do not heed my word.”

Beguiled, the donkey followed the jackal. The lion was prepared for the attack this time and when the donkey came; he fell on him and killed him instantly. The lion asked the jackal to keep an eye on the donkey’s body and left to take a bath in the river. Unable to resist the temptation of fresh flesh, the jackal snipped off the ears of the donkey and scooped his heart out and made a good meal of them. When the lion returned, he noticed that the ears and heart of the donkey were missing.

The lion angrily asked the jackal to tell him what had happened to the ears and heart of the donkey. Dhoosaraka told him that the donkey had no ears and heart. If he had, he would not have come again. The foolish lion believed every word of the jackal and shared the donkey with him.


Moral of the Story :

Idiots invite death knowingly.
Title: Re: Moral Stories
Post by: SS91 on March 28, 2009, 06:40:41 PM
The Story the Potter


Once upon a time, there lived in a village a potter named Yudhishtira. One day, he drank a lot of liquor and got intoxicated and began running. He lost his balance and fell on broken pieces of a pitcher. The sharp edges of the pot pieces cut a big and bloody gash in his forehead. Somehow, he got up and went home. The wound took a long time to heal because he neglected to follow the instructions of the doctor.

Suddenly, a famine struck the whole country. The potter left the country with some others of the royal household. In the new country, he found a job with the king of that country. The king saw the mark of the big wound on his face and thought that Yudhishtira must have been a great warrior who suffered wounds in a battle. The king began showering special attention and affection on the potter, which the king’s sons envied. They could not harm him because he was the king’s favourite.

When everything was going smoothly for the potter, a war came and the king was summoning all known warriors to honour them and prepare them for the war. The king’s men were readying the elephants and horses for the combat while the soldiers were busy staging rehearsals. It was now time for the king to know everything about Yudhishtira.

He sent for the potter and asked him when no one was around, “What is your name, o warrior? In what battle were you injured?”

The potter told the king, “My lord, this is not a wound inflicted on me in a battle. I am a potter and my name is Yudhishtira. One day, when I was drunk, I ran and fell on sharp pieces of a broken pot. This scar on my face is the result of that fall.”

Ashamed that he deceived himself by the speech and garments of the potter, the king asked his servants to throw out the potter.

But Yudhishtira appealed to the king, “My lord, please don’t throw me out. See how well I will fight.”

The king said, “I admit you are a warrior. But you are born in a potter community and hence cannot kill an elephant. So, before other warriors find out that you do not belong to the warrior caste, leave this place,” the king advised Yudhishtira.

The potter immediately left the palace.

Moral of the Story :

You should not have to leave your Falk
Title: Re: Moral Stories
Post by: SS91 on June 06, 2009, 06:59:20 AM
The Loss of Friends (Panchatantra)


Once upon a time, Amarasakti ruled the city-state of Mahilaropyam in the south of India. He had three witless sons who became a matter of endless worry for him. Realizing that his sons had no interest in learning, the king summoned his ministers and said:

“You know I am not happy with my sons. According to men of learning an unborn son and a stillborn son are better than a son who is a dimwit. What good is a barren cow? A son who is stupid will bring dishonour to his father. How can I make them fit to be my successors? I turn to you for advice.”

One of the ministers suggested the name of Vishnu Sharman, a great scholar enjoying the respect of hundreds of his disciples. “He is the most competent person to tutor your children. Entrust them to his care and very soon you will see the change.”

The king summoned Vishnu Sharman and pleaded with him “Oh, venerable scholar, take pity on me and please train my sons into great scholars and I will make you the lord of hundred villages.”

Vishnu Sharman said “Oh, king, listen to my pledge. Hundred villages do not tempt me to vend learning. Count six months from today. If I do not make your children great scholars, you can ask me to change my name.”

The king immediately called his sons and handed them to the care of the learned man. Sharman took them to his monastery where he started teaching them the five strategies (Panchatantra). Keeping his word, he finished the task the king entrusted him in six months. Since then, Panchatantra became popular all over the world as children's guide in solving problems of life.

Now begins the Loss of Friends (first of the five strategies) series. These are stories that figure in a dialogue between two jackals named Karataka and Damanaka.

Long, long ago, a merchant named Vardhaman lived in a town in the south of India. As he was resting on his bed one day it struck him that money was the axis of the world and that the more he had of it the more he would be powerful. Even enemies seek the friendship of a rich man, he told himself. The old become young if they have riches and the young become old if they do not have wealth. Business is one of the six ways that help man amass wealth. This was his logic.

Mobilizing all his wares, Vardhaman set out on an auspicious day for Madhura in search of markets for his goods. He began his travel in a gaily-decorated cart drawn by two bullocks. On the way, tired of the long haul, one of the bullocks named Sanjeevaka collapsed in the middle of a jungle near river Jamuna. But the merchant continued his journey asking some of his servants to take care of the animal. But the servants abandoned the bullock soon after their master had left. Joining him later, they told him that the bullock was dead.

In fact, Sanjeevaka was not dead. Feeding on the abundant fresh and tender grass in the forest, he regained strength and began to merrily explore the jungle, dancing and singing in joy. In the same forest lived Pingalaka, the lion.Sanjeevaka, content with his new life in the jungle would waltz and sing uproariously with joy. One day, Pingalaka and other animals were drinking water in the Jamuna when the lion heard the frightening bellow of the bullock. In panic, the lion withdrew into the forest and sat deeply lost in thought and surrounded by other animals.

Sensing the predicament of their king, two jackals, Karataka and Damanaka, sons of two dismissed ministers, were clueless as to what had happened to their king.

“What could have happened to the lord of the forest,” asked Damanaka.

“Why should we poke our nose into affairs that are not our concern? Haven't you heard the story of the monkey which pulled out the wedge from the log,” asked Damanaka.

“Sounds interesting. Why don't you tell me what happened to the monkey,” pleaded Damanaka.

“Now, listen,” said Damanaka and began narrating the story of the monkey
.


contd



Title: Re: Moral Stories
Post by: GaneshHariharan on June 06, 2009, 08:02:31 AM
Dear Subhasrini ji, Great stories with morals . I am going to print these out and read them to my little one . Thank you . Om Shri Sainathaya Namaha.
Title: Re: Moral Stories
Post by: SS91 on June 06, 2009, 05:57:14 PM

SaiRam Ganesh hariharan ji,

Sai bless you. I am happy I am ABLE TO HELP some of the kids  to learn these stories which has very good moral and  will be  informative in the long run.

JaiSaiRam

Dear Subhasrini ji, Great stories with morals . I am going to print these out and read them to my little one . Thank you . Om Shri Sainathaya Namaha.
Title: Re: Moral Stories
Post by: SS91 on June 06, 2009, 06:07:54 PM
The Monkey And The Wedge

 A  merchant once started building a temple in the middle of his garden. Many masons and carpenters were working for the merchant. They took time off every day to go to the town for their lunch. One day, when the workers left for lunch a batch of monkeys landed at the temple site and began playing with whatever caught their fancy. One of the monkeys saw a partly sawed log of wood and a wedge fixed in it so that it does not close up.

Curious to know what it is, the monkey began furiously tugging at the wedge. At last the wedge came off, not before trapping the legs of the monkey into the rift of the log. Very soon, not able to get his legs out of the closed wood, the monkey died.

“Therefore,” Karataka told Damanaka, “it is not wise to poke our nose into affairs that are not our concern. We have a food store. Why should we bother ourselves about this lion?”

Damanaka retorted, “Food is not the centre of our life. The elders have said that wise men seek the help of the king to help friends and harm foes. There are hundred ways of collecting food. What matters is a life full of learning, courage and wealth. If living somehow is the goal, even the crow lives long eating leftovers.”

“True, but we are not ministers any more. The elders have always said that the stupid person who offers uncalled for advice to the king invites not only insult but also deceit,” said Karataka.

“No,” Damanaka said, “anyone who serves the king with devotion is bound to earn his favour in the long run. The one who does not remains where he is. Those who understand why the king is angry or generous will one-day rise in office. It is necessary to be in the good books of the king.'

“Okay, what do you want to do now?” asked Karataka.

“You know the king is scared now. We will ask him what frightens him and using the six ways of diplomacy get close to him.”

“How do you know the king is scared?”

“Changes in posture, signs, pace, actions, conversation, looks and expression indicate the working of the mind. I will approach the fear-struck king today and with my intelligence, I will dispel his fear and once again become his minister,” said Damanaka.

“How can you do it when you do not know principles of service?” asked Karataka.

Damanaka told him all he knew and learnt about what makes a good and loyal servant in the service of the king.

“In that case, I wish you all good luck,” said Karataka.

Taking leave of Karataka, Damanaka then called on the king. Recognizing that he was the son of his old minister, King Pingalaka told his sentry to bring him into his presence. Damanaka came down on his knees to pay respects to the king.

“We haven't seen you for a long time,” the king said.

“I don't know of what use I can be to you, my lord. Yet, according to the learned, there are occasions when every person however high or low will be of use to the king. For generations we have served the king with devotion. Yet I am out of your majesty's favour.”

“All right, competent or incompetent you are the son of our old minister. Go ahead and tell me whatever you have in your mind,” the king ordered Damanaka.

“May I ask you humbly, my lord, what made you come back from the lake without drinking water,” asked Damanaka reluctantly.

“O' Damanaka, haven't you heard the great and frightening sounds in the distance? I want to leave this forest. The strange animal that could make such sounds ought to be as powerful as the sounds he makes.”

“Your majesty, if it is only sound that is your problem, I wish to submit that sounds are misleading. I can tell you the story of the jackal, how it overcame the fear of sound.”

Let us hear it, said the king.  


CONTD
Title: Re: Moral Stories
Post by: SS91 on June 06, 2009, 06:09:38 PM
The Jackal And The Drum


 A  hungry jackal set out in search of food and ended up at an abandoned battlefield whence he heard loud and strange sounds. Scared, he thought, “I must disappear from here before the man who is making these sounds gets me.” After a while he told himself, “I must not run away like that. Let me find out what really the sounds are and who is making them because whether it is fear or happiness one must know its cause. Such a person will never regret his actions. So, let me first look for the source of these noises.”

Warily, the jackal marched in the direction of the sounds and found a drum there. It was this drum, which was sending the sounds whenever the branches of the tree above brushed against it. Relieved, the jackal began playing the drum and thought that there could be food inside it. The jackal entered the drum by piercing its side. He was disappointed to find no food in it. Yet he consoled himself saying that he rid himself of the fear of sound.

“Therefore”, Damanaka told king Pingalaka, “your majesty should not be afraid of sounds. I seek your permission to go and see what the sounds are.”

“Okay,” said the king. Taking leave of the king, Damanaka proceeded in the direction of the sound.

The king now began worrying himself about Damanaka's intentions. “He may have a grudge against me for dismissing him once. Such persons seek revenge. I should not have taken him into confidence. Let me keep an eye on him. Wise men have always maintained that it is difficult to kill even a weak man who does not easily trust others but easy to kill a strong man who readily trusts others,” the king thought.

As the king kept an eye on him, Damanaka moved slowly towards Sanjeevaka, the bullock, and found that he was after all an animal and thought, “This is a good omen. This will help me to get back into the good books of the king. Kings never follow the advice of their ministers unless they are in peril or grief. Just as a healthy man never thinks of a doctor, a strong and secure king also never remembers the need for a minister.”

Assured that what he saw was only a bullock, Damanaka returned to the king and told him what he saw.

“Is it true?” the king asked.

“The king is God. The man who lies to a king perishes. He alone has the power to grant favours.”

“I believe you. Great men do not harm weaker people. They take on only their equals. That is what is unique about brave people.”

“What your majesty says is true. Sanjeevaka is great. If your lordship permits me, I will persuade him to be one of your servants.”

“All right, I am taking you back as a minister,” said the king, pleased.

Damanaka at once hurried back to Sanjeevaka and told him to stop bellowing and come and meet his king. But the bullock wanted who this Pingalaka was. “What? You do not know our lord? Wait, you will know shortly the cost of this ignorance. There he is, surrounded by his retinue under the banyan tree.” Sanjeevaka thought his days were numbered and pleaded with Damanaka, “Sir, you seem to be a man of great wisdom and wit. You alone can save me. I can come only if you can assure me that no harm will come to me.” Damanaka told the bullock to wait for the right time to meet the king.

Returning to the king, Damanaka told him “My lord, he is not an ordinary being. He is the vehicle of Lord Shiva. He told me that Lord Shiva had permitted him to feed on the tender grass in the neighbourhood of Jamuna. But I told him that the forest belonged to our lion king who is the vehicle of goddess Chandika. You are our guest. You can see our king and seek a separate space for you to graze. He agreed to this plan provided he has an assurance from your majesty.”

“Yes, certainly. But I will need assurance from him in return. Bring him here,” the king told Damanaka. Going back to the bullock Damanaka advised him, “You have the assurance of the king. But this new position should not go to your head. We have to work together. That is how we can prosper. Otherwise, he who does not respect everyone, however high or low, will forfeit the favour of kings like Dantila.”

“What about Dantila?” asked Sanjeevaka.  
Title: Re: Moral Stories
Post by: SS91 on June 21, 2009, 01:15:27 PM
A Small Story…


A boy and a girl were playing together. The boy had a collection of marbles. The girl had some sweets with her. The boy told the girl that he will give her all his marbles in exchange for her sweets. The girl agreed.


The boy kept the biggest and the most beautiful marble aside and gave the rest to the girl. The girl gave him all her sweets as she had promised.


That night, the girl slept peacefully. But the boy couldn't sleep as he kept wondering if the girl had hidden some sweets from him the way he had hidden his best marble.






Moral of the story: If you don't give your 100 % in a relationship, you'll always keep doubting if the other person has given his/her 100 %.
This proves to be true for any relationship like Friendship, marital relationship, love relationship, and 
all relationships in office created by work structures, So give 100 % to every thing you do and
sleep peacefully.  ***********



Title: GOD DID COME
Post by: SS91 on June 21, 2009, 05:05:19 PM
Om shri Sai Nathaya Namaha


There was a very big Dam and was holding lot of water in a man made lake, after many peaceful years, one day a villager detects a crack on the Dam, for a moment his heart stops, he runs to the village head to inform about this crack.


The village along with all his men inspect the crack on the Dam and decide to call the govt. to get this rectified, the engineers arrive and to their utter disappointment it is found that the crack can not be repaired, so they raise a danger alarm and they request the Govt to evacuate all the villages with in the close proximity of the Dam, every villager leaves very early and then it is time for the Dam to rupture, water starts flowing in a huge stream.


Meanwhile the rescue team detect that a man is still living in his home.



The rescue team ask the man to get out, but the Man is adamant, no my GOD will save me, he will not let me down.


The rescue team leaves the scene keeping the condition of Dam in mind, the water now is flowing in the villages like a river and the man's house is effected.


Now the Rescue team in their last visit call out for the man, who is in his second floor.


The man: No my GOD will save me.


The rescue team leaves again, the water is higher now and the second floor is under water,


The Rescue team in a ferry reach this man's house and call him to get in the ferry.


The Man: No my God......................!


The Rescue team leaves and is replaced by the Army.


The water has submerged almost all the villages and the Man is on the roof top.


The Army in a Helicopter; Hey common we will take you up, catch this harness.


The Man: No my God will come..................


The Army leaves and the Dam breaks submerging everything.


The man is standing in a reception , appears like the abode of GOD.


GOD: There you are, How are you?


Man: I will not speak to you, you let me drown, I called you so many times and you did not come.


GOD: I did come, the people in Rescue team, The Ferry, The Helicopter, all were my men, but you did not come.


Moral: God is Omnipresent and everywhere.
Title: Re: Moral Stories
Post by: GaneshHariharan on June 23, 2009, 11:29:19 AM
Good ones Subhasrini ji. Om Sairam.
Title: Re: Moral Stories
Post by: SS91 on July 17, 2009, 06:58:13 AM
Lessons of Life


Once upon a time there was a race ... of frogs. The goal was to reach the top of a high tower.

Many people gathered to see and support them. The race began.. In reality, the people probably didn't believe that it was possible that the frogs reached the top of the tower, and all the phrases that one could here were of this kind: "What pain !!! They'll never make it!"


The frogs began to resign, except for one who kept on climbing

The people continued: "... What pain !!! They'll never make it!..."

And the frogs admitted defeat, except for the frog who continued to insist. At the end, all the frogs quit, except the one who, alone and with and enormous effort, reached the top of the tower.

The others wanted to know how did he do it. One of them approached him to ask him how he had done it, to finish the race.

And discovered that he...was deaf!

...Never listen to people who have the bad habit of being negative...

because they steal the best aspirations of your heart! Always remind yourself of the power of the words that we hear or read.
 
That's why, you always have to think positive POSITIVE !


Conclusion: Allways be deaf to someone who tells you that you can't and won't achieve your goals or make come true your dreams.
Title: Re: Moral Stories
Post by: SS91 on July 29, 2009, 07:29:30 PM

Proverbs


  ;D


Don't throw away your old shoes until you have got new ones. --Dutch Proverb

The heart has eyes that the brain knows nothing of. --American Proverb

Only the man who crosses the river at night knows the value of the light of day. --Chinese Proverb

Love is sweet captivity. --Czech Proverb

Little is done where many command. -- Dutch Proverb

Patience is a tree whose root is bitter, but its fruit is very sweet. --Canadian Proverb

A hair on the head is worth two on the brush. --Irish Proverb

No one tests the depth of a river with both feet. --African Proverb

Time and tide wait for no man. --American Proverb

The world's a stage; each plays his part, and takes his share. --Dutch Proverb

The heart of man and the bottom of the sea are unfathomable. --African Proverb

Diligence is the mother of good luck. --American Proverb

You'll never plow a field by turning it over in your mind. --Irish Proverb

Anger is the only thing to put off until tomorrow. --Czech Proverb

Good luck beats early rising. -- Irish Proverb

A man must put grain in the ground before he can cut the harvest. --Gypsy Proverb

Better be quarrelling than lonesome. --Irish proverb

It's no use carrying an umbrella if your shoes are leaking. --Irish Proverb

Hold a true friend with both your hands. --Nigerian Proverb

True friends are like diamonds, precious and rare; false ones like autumn leaves, found everywhere. --American Proverb

The apple does not fall far from the tree. --Yiddish Proverb

God pays, but not weekly wages. --Polish proverb

Doubt whom you will, but never doubt yourself. --American Proverb

Little and lasting is better than much and passing. --Moroccan Proverb

There is not a tree in heaven higher than the tree of patience. --Irish Proverb

Cheese, wine, and a friend must be old to be good. --Cuban Proverb

God conceals himself from the mind of man, but reveals himself to his heart. --African Proverb

There is not a tree in heaven higher than the tree of patience. --Irish Proverb

Patience is a tree whose root is bitter, but its fruit is very sweet. --Canadian Proverb

Laws without penalties are like bells without clappers. --Czech Proverb

As the baker, so the buns; as the father, so the sons. --American Proverb

A love that can last forever takes but a second to come about. --Cuban Proverb

However long the night, the dawn will break. --African Proverb

A harvest of peace is produced from a seed of contentment. -- American Proverb

The soul would have no rainbow if the eyes had no tears. --Native American Proverb

He who waits for a chance may wait for a long time. --Nigerian Proverb

If you don't have a plan for yourself, you'll be a part of someone else's. --American Proverb

A lady is a woman who makes it easy for a man to be a gentleman. --American Proverb

However long the night, the dawn will break --African Proverb

Choose your friends like your books, few but choice. --American Proverb

There is a great distance between said and done. --Puerto Rican Proverb

After distress, solace. --Swahili Proverb

Eagles fly alone, but sheep flock together. --Polish Proverb

If you speak the truth have a foot in the stirrup. --Turkish proverb

You can outdistance that which is running after you but not what is running inside you. --Rwandan Proverb

A fool and water will go the way they are diverted. --African Proverb

Talking is silver, silence is gold. --German Proverb

Let your anger set with the sun and not rise again. --Irish Proverb

The end is the crown of any work. --Russian Proverb

The more you sweat in peacetime, the less you bleed during war. --Chinese Proverb

It is no longer good enough to cry peace. We must act peace, live peace and live in peace. --Native America Proverb

The only difference between stumbling blocks and stepping stones is the way you use them. --American Proverb

As fast as laws are devised, their evasion is contrived. --German Proverb

Danger past, God forgotten. --Scottish Proverb


JaiSaiRam
Title: Re: Moral Stories
Post by: SS91 on August 14, 2009, 09:20:04 AM
THE FOUR SEASONS



There was a man who had four sons. He wanted his sons to learn not to judge things too quickly.
So he sent them each on a quest, in turn, to go and look at a pear tree that was a great distance away.

The first son went in the winter, the second in the spring, the third in summer, and the youngest son in the fall.
When they had all gone and come back, he called them together to describe what they had seen.
 
The first son said that the tree was ugly, bent and twisted.
 
The second son said no , it was covered with green buds and full of promise.
 
The third son disagree, he said it was laden with blossoms that smelled so sweet and looked so beautiful, it was the most graceful thing he had ever seen. 
 
The last son disagreed with all of them; he said it was ripe and drooping with fruit, full of life and fulfillment.

The man then explained to his sons that they were all right, because they had each seen but only one seasonin the tree's life.

He told them that you cannot judge a tree, or a person, by only one season, and that the essence of who they are and the pleasure, joy, and love that come from that life can only be measured at the end, when all the seasons are up.

If you give up when it's winter, you will miss the promise of your spring, the beauty of your summer, fulfillment of your fall.



Moral lessons:

Don't let the pain of one season destroy the joy of all the rest.

Don't judge life by one difficult season.

Persevere through the difficult patches and better times are sure to come


Jai Sai Ram!!!
Title: Re: Moral Stories
Post by: shirsi on August 20, 2009, 03:01:11 AM


Om sai ram


A blind boy sat on the steps of a building with a hat by his feet. He held up a sign which said: 'I am blind, please help.' There were only a few coins in the hat.

 

A man was walking by. He took a few coins from his pocket and dropped them into the hat. He then took the sign, turned it around, and wrote some words. He put the sign back so that everyone who walked by would see the new words.

Soon the hat began to fill up. A lot more people were giving money to the blind boy.. That afternoon the man who had changed the sign came to see how things were. The boy recognized his footsteps and asked, 'Were you the one who changed my sign this morning? What did you write?'

The man said, 'I only wrote the truth. I said what you said but in a different way.'
What he had written was:
'Today is a beautiful day and I cannot see it.'

 

Do you think the first sign and the second sign were saying the same thing?

Of course both signs told people the boy was blind. But the first sign simply said the boy was blind. The second sign told people they were so lucky that they were not blind. Should we be surprised that the second sign was more effective?

Moral of the Story: Be thankful for what you have. Be creative. Be innovative. Think differently and positively.

Invite others towards good with wisdom.
Live life with no excuse and love with no regrets.
When life gives you a 100 reasons to cry, show life that you have 1000 reasons to smile. Face your past without regret.
Handle your present with confidence.
Prepare for the future without fear.
Keep the faith and drop the fear.

Great men say, 'Life has to be an incessant process of repair and reconstruction, of discarding evil and developing goodness…. In the journey of life, if you want to travel without fear, you must have the ticket of a good conscience.'

The most beautiful thing is to see a person smiling…
And even more beautiful, knows that you are the reason behind it!!! :)

Jai Jai Sai Ram!!
Title: Re: Moral Stories
Post by: SS91 on August 24, 2009, 11:32:11 AM
A little girl and her father were crossing a flimsy bridge. The father was kind of worried for his daughter, so he asked his little daughter, Sweetheart, please hold my hand so that you don't fall into the river.'

The little girl said, 'No, Dad. You hold my hand.'           


'What's the difference?' asked the puzzled father.

'There's a big difference,' replied the little girl. 'If I hold your hand and something happens to me, chances are that I may let your hand go. But if you hold my hand, I know for sure that no matter what happens, you will never let my hand go.'
**********************************
' Better give your hand to someone who will never let go of you rather than you holding a hand which is not open for you    '
Title: Re: Moral Stories
Post by: SS91 on August 25, 2009, 06:51:35 AM
A saint asked his disciples, 'Why do we shout in anger? Why do people shout at each other when they are upset?'  >:(

Disciples thought for a while, one of them said, 'Because we lose our calm, we shout for that.'

'But, why to shout when the other person is just next to you?' asked the saint. 'Isn't it possible to speak to him or her with a soft voice? Why do you shout at a person when you're angry?'

Disciples gave some other answers but none satisfied the saint.

Finally he explained, 'When two people are angry at each other, their hearts distance a lot. To cover that distance they must shout to be able to hear each other. The angrier they are, the stronger they will have to shout to hear each other through that great distance.'

Then the saint asked, 'What happens when two people fall in love? They don't shout at each other but talk softly, why? Because their hearts are very close. The distance between them is very small...'

The saint continued, 'When they love each other even more, what happens? They do not speak, only whisper and they get even closer to each other in their love. Finally they even need not whisper, they only look at each other and that's all. That is how close two people are when they love each other.'
 
MORAL: When you argue do not let your hearts get distant, do not say words that distance each other more, else there will come a day when the distance is so great that you will not find the path to return.   
Title: Re: Moral Stories
Post by: SS91 on August 27, 2009, 08:25:05 AM
The Oak Tree & The Reeds


The Oak tree always thought that he was far stronger then the reeds. He said to himself "I stand upright in a storm. I don't bend my head in fear every time the wind blows. But these reeds are really so weak."

That very night blew a storm and the mighty oak tree was uprooted.

"Good God!" sighed the reeds, "our way is better. We bend but we don't break."


MORAL : Pride hath a fall
Title: Re: Moral Stories
Post by: SS91 on August 28, 2009, 07:14:38 PM
An Ant  and A Grasshopper


A lazy grasshopper laughed at a little ant as she was always busy gathering food.

"why are you working so hard?" he asked, "come into the sunshine and listen to my merry notes."

"But the ant went on her work. She said" I am lying in a store for the winter. Sunny days won't last for ever."

"Winter is so far away yet, "laughed the grasshopper back.

And when the winter came, the ant settled down in her snug house. She had plenty of food to last the whole winter. The grasshopper had nothing to eat so, he went to the ant and begged her for a little corn.

"No", replied the ant, "you laughed at me when I worked. You yourself sang through the summer. So you had better dance the winter away."

MORAL : Idleness is a curse.
Title: Re: Moral Stories
Post by: SS91 on August 31, 2009, 10:05:44 AM

The Fox Without Tail


A fox was once caught in a trap. It was only after a tough struggle that she could get free. But, to her sorrow, her beautiful tail had been cut off and left in the trap.

"How ugly I shall look!" moaned the fox, " won't the other foxes laugh at me ?"

Thinking hard, the fox hit upon a plan to save herself from being laughed at. She called a meeting of his friends and said, "Brothers! have you ever wondered why after all, we carry these long tails?" Let us cut them off and be free from their nuisance."

But the other foxes had noticed her cut-off tail. They laughed aloud and replied, "You used to say that tails looked very fine when your own was all right. Now that you have lost yours, you want us to lose ours too."


MORAL : Dirty tricks seldom work.
Title: Re: Moral Stories
Post by: SS91 on September 01, 2009, 07:06:03 AM

The Wolf And The Goat


Once a wolf saw a goat atop a hill and said, "Come down here, Miss Goat! The grass here is greener and longer."

"Thank You," answered the goat, "the grass down there may be much better. But, if I come down you will get a good meal. So, I prefer to stay here - where you can't reach. At least I am quite safe."


MORAL : Let not others exploit your gentleness.
Title: Re: Moral Stories
Post by: SS91 on September 02, 2009, 11:23:15 AM
The Miser

 
There was once a miser. He melted all his money into a block of gold and buried it in a pit. Every day he would dig it up and smile to see it.

One night the gold-block was stolen. So, the miser was in tears. A friend of his saw him weeping and said, " You should bury a stone in the pit and look at it every day. You
never spent money when you had it Was it better then a stone anyway?"

MORAL : It is a cause to be a miser.  
Title: Re: Moral Stories
Post by: SS91 on September 03, 2009, 02:26:35 PM
The Wind and The Sun

Once the Wind and the Sun came to have a quarrel. Either of them claimed to be a stronger. At last they agreed to have a trial of strength.

"Here comes a traveller. Let us see who can strip him of his clock," said the Sun.

The Wind agreed and chose to have the first turn. He blew in the hardest possible way. As a result , the traveller wrapped his cloak even more tightly around him.

Then it was the turn of the Sun. At first he shone very gently. So, the traveller loosened his cloak from his neck.

The sun went on shining brighter and brighter. The traveller felt hot. Before long he took off his cloak and put it in his bag. The Wind had to accept his defeat.


MORAL : Fury or force cuts no ice where gentleness does the job.
Title: Re: Moral Stories
Post by: SS91 on September 05, 2009, 01:47:32 PM
The Dreamy Milk-Maid


A Milk-maid had been to the meadow to milk her cows. Now she was returning home with a pail of milk on her head.

She thought, "I will make cream and butter out of this milk. Then selling them, I will buy eggs and when they hatch, I shall have a good poultry farm."

She further thought, "I shall sell some of my fowls and buy a fine dress. Seeing it on my body at the fair, all the boys will admire me. But I will turn them away just tossing my head at them."

Lost in day dreams, she forgot about the pail on her head. She tossed her head with a jerk and the pail of milk came tumbling down. it was broken and all the milk got spilt. 

"Dear O dear !" she cried, "I have lost my all."


MORAL: Don't count your chickens before they are hatched.
Title: Re: Moral Stories
Post by: SS91 on September 06, 2009, 01:33:09 PM
The Hare And The Tortoise

Once a hare was roaming near a lake in a forest. Suddenly he saw a tortoise and mocked at him saying - "Hurry up, you slow coach! Don't you find life very dull taking so long to cover a few yards? I could have run to the other side of the lake by now."

The tortoise felt teased and dared the hare to a race. The race was to be through the wood to a fixed goal.

The hare agreed laughingly. In a few minutes he was away and out of sight.

"What a funny race it is!" he said to himself , "I am already half -way through. But it is too-too cold; why not have a nap in the warm sunshine?"

The tortoise walked steadily on and on. In a short time, he passed by the sleeping hare.

The hare slept  far longer then he had intended. When he woke up at last, he looked around in surprise and said to himself," Not even a sigh of the poor tortoise anywhere so far; I had better trot along and finish the race."

The hare ran to the goal. He was amazed to see all the animals cheering the tortoise who had arrived just a minute earlier. how ashamed he felt indeed!


MORAL : Slow and steady wins the race.
Title: Re: Moral Stories
Post by: SS91 on September 10, 2009, 07:57:53 AM
LEARN TO LIVE WITH YOUR WEAKNESSES

It was a fine day during the rainy season. A peacock was dancing happily in a forest. Suddenly he reminded of his ugly rough voice. His face turned pale and his eyes started watering.

Suddenly he saw a nightingale sitting on a nearby tree and singing. Listening her, the peacock lamented �what a sweet voice she has, which everybody loves and praises but when I utter a sound everybody makes fun of me. How jinxed am I�.

Just then appeared Juna- wife of Jupiter, the chief of gods. She asked the peacock �why are u said?� The peacock sobbed out � I have got such a beautiful body that is praised by all but my voice is so bad that everyone laughs at it. So this beauty is useless�.

The goddess replied � you are the only one who is unhappy. Several creatures have been gifted by god with various gifts like- you the beauty, eagle the strength, nightingale the sweet voice, so on and so forth. So don�t grumble over your weakness, accept the way it is and be happy�.


Hence, one should not regret on what he/she doesn�t have rather be satisfied with what one has
Title: Re: Moral Stories
Post by: SS91 on September 10, 2009, 11:30:45 AM
The Peacock And The Crane

One day a peacock met a crane and said, "So sorry for you. You have so dull feathers. Look at the fine colors of my feathers."

"Well!" replied the crane, "your look are brighter then mine. but whereas I can fly high up into the sky, all you can do is to strut about on the ground."


MORAL: Never find fault with others.
Title: Re: Moral Stories
Post by: SS91 on September 17, 2009, 12:34:26 PM
The Pig and the Sheep
A farmer's boy went into his field. There were some sheep and a pig there. He picked up the pig that squealed aloud.

"Why are you making a fuss? When he catches us, we never cry." said a sheep.

"Shut up, cried the pig, "the shepherd wants only wool from you. But this boy is taking me away for my meat."


MORAL: Life is dear to everyone.
Title: Re: Moral Stories
Post by: SS91 on September 20, 2009, 04:35:14 PM

A Fisherman And A Sprat



A fisherman had been fishing for along time but without luck. At last he tugged at his net and saw a small fish caught in it.

"Please let me go," begged the fish, "I will grow bigger in a few days and then you can catch me again."

The fisherman said, "Now that I have caught you I won't let you go. If I leave you, I may never see you again."


MORAL: A bird in band is worth two in bush.
Title: Re: Moral Stories
Post by: SS91 on October 06, 2009, 08:38:29 AM


The Town-Mouse And The Country-Mouse

A town-mouse paid a visit to his friend who lived in the countryside. The country-mouse was happy to see his friend. So he prepared a fine feast for him. The town-mouse looked at the fruit and the car of corn with hatred

"Is this how you live ?" he asked, "life in the country does not offer much."

He persuaded the country-mouse to accompany him to the town and see all the good things there.

So, the country-mouse packed all his belongings and off they went to the city. The country-mouse was really surprised to see the things there. But as soon as they settled down to enjoy a fine meal of cheese and fruit, a big cat leapt in through the window. Seeing the cat, both the mice ran into their hole to save themselves, so the cat ate up all the cheese and fruit.

When the cat had gone away, the mice came out of their hole.

"I am going," cried the country-mouse, "I like my simple fare in safety than this grand feast in such a danger."

MORAL: Safety is the first importance.
Title: Re: Moral Stories
Post by: SS91 on October 14, 2009, 01:23:46 PM
The Boar And The Foxes

Two foxes watched a wild boar sharpening his tusks on a tree-trunk.

"Why do you do that?" asked one of them, "the huntsmen are not out today."

"Let that be so," answered the boar, "but whenever my life is in danger, I shall need my tusks and there will be no time to sharpen them."



MORAL: Lost time cannot be recalled
Title: Re: Moral Stories
Post by: SS91 on October 15, 2009, 06:38:50 AM
The Lark In The Corn-Field

Once a Lark made her nest in a corn-field. Soon she laid eggs in it. After a few days small babies hatched out of them.

One day the baby-larks overheard the farmer say, "I will call my neighbors to reap this field."

The Baby-larks got alarmed to hear this and told their mother about it.

"Don't worry," said the mother.

Some days later, the farmer came again and said, I will call my relatives to reap this field." The baby-larks afraid again.

"Fear not," said their mother.

But the next day the farmer came there with his little son and said, "I will reap this field tomorrow."

"Now is the time to go. When a man says he will do the work himself, he will certainly do it," said the mother-lark.

MORAL : Don't fear hollow threats.
Title: Re: Moral Stories
Post by: SS91 on October 22, 2009, 01:24:43 PM
The Cock And The Jewel

A cock was scratching the ground with his claws looking for a tasty morsel to eat. While doing so, he chanced to turn over a stone and find a shining gem under it.

"Cock-a doodle-do !" cried the cock and said, "It looks very fine and it may be valuable to some people. But I would rather have found a nice grain of corn."
MORAL: Gems can't pacify hunger.
Title: Re: Moral Stories
Post by: SS91 on October 27, 2009, 08:20:09 AM
You Can't Please everyone
  ;D


One day a man was going to market with his son and his ass. They met a couple on the way.

"Why walk when you have an ass to ride?" called out the husband, "seat the boy on the ass."

"I would like that," said the boy, "help me up father."

And the father did that willingly.

Soon they met another couple. "How shameful of you!" cried the woman, "let your father ride, won't he be tired?"

So, the boy got down and the father rode the ass. Again they marched on.

"Poor boy", said the next person they met, "why should the lazy father ride while his son is walking?"

So, the boy got onto the ass too. As they went on, they met some travellers.

"How cruel of them!" They are up to kill the poor ass." cried one of the travellers.

Hearing this, the father and the son got down. Now they decided to carry the ass on their shoulders. As they did so, the travellers broke into laughter.

The laughter frightened the ass. It broke free and galloped away.

MORAL: You can not please everyone
Title: Re: Moral Stories
Post by: SS91 on December 09, 2009, 08:11:01 AM
Learn from Mistakes

Thomas Edison tried two thousand different materials in search of a filament for the light bulb. When none worked satisfactorily, his assistant complained, “All our work is in vain. We have learned nothing.”

Edison replied very confidently, “Oh, we have come a long way and we have learned a lot. We know that there are two thousand elements which we cannot use to make a good light bulb.”
Title: Re: Moral Stories
Post by: SS91 on December 09, 2009, 02:19:14 PM
ONLY OTHERS CAN TELL YOUR WORTH

Once upon a time, Mercury, the god of skill, was tickled by a strange idea. He became anxious to know how human beings estimated his worth in comparison to other gods.

So, he disguised himself as a man and came to the earth. Roaming about, he came to the house of a sculptor where he saw idols of various gods, including his own.

Then he approached the sculptor and asked, �What price would you charge for the idol of Juno, the goddess of marriage?�
The sculptor replied, �two dollars�.

Again, Mercury asked, �What for the idol of Jupiter, the chief of gods?�

�Five dollars�, replied the sculptor.

�And how much for Mercury?� asked the god.

�Oh that. I shall give that free if you buy the other two�, pat came the reply.

Mercury was cut to the quick and disappeared
Title: Re: Moral Stories
Post by: SS91 on December 10, 2009, 02:13:22 PM
LOOK BEFORE YOU LEAP

Once a fox was roaming around in the dark. Unfortunately, he fell into a well. He tried his level best to come out but all in vain. So, he had no other alternative but to remain there till the next morning.

The next day, a goat came that way. She peeped into the well and saw the fox there. The goat asked �what are you doing there, Mr. Fox?�

The sly fox replied, �I came here to drink water. It is the best I have ever tasted. Come and see for yourself.�

Without thinking even for a while, the goat jumped into the well, quenched her thirst and looked for a way to get out. But just like the fox, she also found herself helpless to come out.

Then the fox said, �I have an idea. You stand on your hind legs. I�ll climb on your head and get out. Then I shall help you come out too.�

The goat was innocent enough to understand the shrewdness of the fox and did as the fox said and help him get out of the well.

While walking away, the fox said, �Had you been intelligent enough, you would never have got in without seeing how to get out.�

That�s why we say, �Look before you leap�.  
Title: Re: Moral Stories
Post by: SS91 on December 11, 2009, 06:29:15 AM
GREED A CURSE

Once upon a time there lived a cloth merchant in a village with his wife and two children. They were indeed quite well-off. They had a beautiful hen which laid an egg everyday. It was not an ordinary egg, rather, a golden egg. But the man was not satisfied with what he used to get daily. He was a get rich-trice kind of a person.

The man wanted to get all the golden eggs from his hen at one single go. So, one day he thought hard and at last clicked upon a plan. He decided to kill the hen and get all the eggs together.

So, the next day when the hen laid a golden egg, the man caught hold of it, took a sharp knife, chopped off its neck and cut its body open.

There was nothing but blood all around & no trace of any egg at all. He was highly grieved because now he would not get even one single egg.

His life was going on smoothly with one egg a day but now, he himself made his life miserable. The outcome of his greed was that he started becoming poorer & poorer day by day and ultimately became a pauper. How jinxed and how much foolish he was.  


So, the moral of the story is- one who desires more, looses all. One should remain satisfied with what one gets.
Title: Re: Moral Stories
Post by: SS91 on December 22, 2009, 11:06:02 AM
UNITED WE STAND ;DIVIDED WE FALL

Once upon a time three sons were engaged in merchantile business under the supervision of their father. They were very rich. Each son was proficient in his own department.

If one was good in sales, the other one was competent in purchases and similarly the third one in finance.

Unluckily, one day the father got bed ridden and the sons decided to divide the business under the fallacy that each of them were experts in their own way and can handle their individual business solely.

The father was glum and grumpy with their decision but was helpless and unfortunately the separation took place.

As a result three of them became each others competitors. With the passage of time, they started having huge losses in their respective businesses. They tried all possible ways to succeed but the situation became worse.

Then they came to their father for a piece of advice. The father said �when you all were doing the business jointly, the business ran successfully. But it was not any one of you responsible for the success of the business rather traits of all three of you put together made the business successful.  


The sons realized their mistake & got reunited. So we conclude that disunity always ruins.  
Title: Re: Moral Stories
Post by: SS91 on January 22, 2010, 08:04:02 AM
LEARN TO LIVE WITH YOUR WEAKNESSES

It was a fine day during the rainy season. A peacock was dancing happily in a forest. Suddenly he reminded of his ugly rough voice. His face turned pale and his eyes started watering.

Suddenly he saw a nightingale sitting on a nearby tree and singing. Listening her, the peacock lamented �what a sweet voice she has, which everybody loves and praises but when I utter a sound everybody makes fun of me. How jinxed am I".

Just then appeared Juna- wife of Jupiter, the chief of gods. She asked the peacock "why are u sad?" The peacock sobbed out ! I have got such a beautiful body that is praised by all but my voice is so bad that everyone laughs at it. So this beauty is useless".

The goddess replied " you are the only one who is unhappy. Several creatures have been gifted by god with various gifts like- you the beauty, eagle the strength, nightingale the sweet voice, so on and so forth. So don�t grumble over your weakness, accept the way it is and be happy".

Hence, one should not regret on what he/she doesn't have rather be satisfied with what one has.  
Title: Re: Moral Stories
Post by: SS91 on January 25, 2010, 01:05:47 PM
NOBODY BELIEVES A LIAR

Once a mischievous boy lived in a village that stood in the feet of a hill. One day he thought of having fun at the cost of his fellow-villagers.

Standing on a high rock, he shouted at the top of his voice, Lion! Lion! Come, save me.

The villagers heard the shout and ran to help him. But when they reached there, they could see no lion and the boy was perfectly all right. The boy laughed at the villagers saying, No Lion ; I did it only for fun.

The villagers got highly annoyed and came back with an air of anger.

Few days later the boy repeated the whole act. Again the villagers went to his rescue but were duped again. Now they decided not to be fooled by him anymore.

Unfortunately, one day, the lion really came there. Now the boy shouted  Lion! Lion! as loud as he could. But nobody came to help him out.

The lion attacked the boy. The boy struggled hard to save himself but within few minutes, the beast killed him.

So, once a liar, always a liar.  
Title: Re: Moral Stories
Post by: SS91 on February 10, 2010, 11:00:30 AM
How granny saved the village

Once upon a time, during a war, a battle was fought near a small village. The losing side, when they saw that the battle was lost, ran away and left the nearby village undefended. The village was right in the path of the army that had won. Everyone in the village was very frightened, they expected that the soldiers would attack and rob them. However, one old lady didn't seem very worried. She just sat quietly and read some prayers from her prayer book.

Her grandson asked, "Aren't you frightened, granny? Tomorrow the soldiers will be here and they'll beat us and may even kill us." The old lady calmed him with a smile and read aloud from her prayer book. Then, she prayed, "May the Lord raise a solid wall to keep the enemies from this house."

The young boy was worried and asked, "But is that not asking for too much from God? Surely, it's not right to pray for impossible things"

The old lady smiled and said, "Grandson, my prayer doesn't mean that I am asking God to build a stone wall around our house. We must put our trust in God. He will protect us if we trust Him. He certainly is able to do so."

When the soldiers arrived they all came with the motive to destroy. They kept destroying each house that lay across their path. As they approached the devoted granny's house, suddenly they felt as though their hands became heavy and could not be lifted to destroy her house. Seeing this, more soldiers joined in to attack the house but to their surprise, they too could not raise their hands to attack. Finally, understanding that there was a supreme force much more powerful than them guarding this house, the attacking soldiers gave up. They fell on their knees, asked for forgiveness, and later even helped the villagers rebuild what they had destroyed
.

Moral: Even though a situation may seem impossible to us, God is always with us and hears our prayers. He only asks that we put our faith and trust in Him and He will protect us.
Title: Re: Moral Stories
Post by: SS91 on February 10, 2010, 12:40:05 PM
NO USE REPENTING WHEN IT�S TOO LATE

 
Once a farmer procured honey from a honey-comb after smoking away all the bees of the comb. He put the honey in a pot and left for his house. Unluckily, he stumbled against a stone on the way. As a result, the pot of honey fell down and broke. All the honey spilt on the ground.

Being a sticky fluid, honey doesn't leave the spot where it spills. So, finding it difficult to recover the honey, the farmer went away cursing himself.

Just then a swarm of flies came there. Getting the flavour of honey, they descended upon it. They never thought that the honey would catch them fatally. Having had their fill, they tried to fly away but their feet and wings got stuck into honey.


The flies cried, "How foolish we are! For a little pleasure we have to die an untimely death." It was too late now.  


The End..
Title: Re: Moral Stories
Post by: SS91 on February 11, 2010, 08:47:29 AM
AS YOU SOW, SO SHALL YOU REAP

               

Once upon a time a flea saw an ox grazing in a pasture. He knew that oxen work for men in their farms. But he didn't like it. He was proud that he fed on men's blood and yet didn't do anything for them.

Approaching the ox, the flea asked, "How is it so that you work for men though you are quite big and strong? Look at me, I never do anything for them and yet feed on their blood though I am so small."

The ox was surprised to hear what the flea had said and replied, "If I work for men, they are very kind to me. They take care of mine in every way, feed me, shelter me and moreover, pat me on my back, head and neck out of love and affection.

On the other hand, you feed on their blood and they are always up to destroy you."

Behaviour always counts.


The End..

Title: Re: Moral Stories
Post by: SS91 on May 16, 2010, 04:08:24 PM
A VERY NICE STORY WITH A GOOD MORAL


A kindergarten teacher has decided to let her class play a game.

 

The teacher told each child in the class to bring along a plastic bag containing a few potatoes.

 

Each potato will be given a name of a person that the child hates,

 

So the number of potatoes that a child will put in his/her plastic bag will depend on the number of people he/she hates.

 

So when the day came, every child brought some potatoes with the name of the people he/she hated. Some had 2 potatoes; some 3 while some up to 5 potatoes. The teacher then told the children to carry with them the potatoes in the plastic bag wherever they go (even to the toilet) for 1 week.

 

Days after days passed by, and the children started to complain due to the unpleasant smell let out by the rotten potatoes. Besides, those having 5 potatoes also had to carry heavier bags. After 1 week, the children were relieved because the game had finally ended....

 

The teacher asked: "How did you feel while carrying the potatoes with you for 1 week?" The children let out their frustrations and started complaining of the trouble that they had to go through having to carry the heavy and smelly potatoes wherever they go.

 

Then the teacher told them the hidden meaning behind the game. The teacher said: "This is exactly the situation when you carry your hatred for somebody inside your heart. The stench of hatred will contaminate your heart and you will carry it with you wherever you go. If you cannot tolerate the smell of rotten potatoes for just 1 week, can you imagine what is it like to have the stench of hatred in your heart for your lifetime???"


Moral of the story: Throw away any hatred for anyone from your heart so that you will not carry sins for a lifetime. Forgiving others is the best attitude to take!

 

True love is not loving a perfect person but loving an imperfect person perfectly!!
Title: Re: Moral Stories
Post by: son$ai on June 28, 2010, 04:02:46 AM
subhahrani ji dats really beautiful one
Title: Re: Moral Stories
Post by: SS91 on November 11, 2010, 09:40:08 AM
What goes around comes around.........


One day a man saw an old lady, stranded on the side of the road, but even in the dim light of day, he could see she needed help. So he pulled up in front of her Mercedes and got out. His Pontiac was still sputtering when he approached her.

Even with the smile on his face, she was worried. No one had stopped to help for the last hour or so. Was he going to hurt her? He didn’t look safe; he looked poor and hungry. He could see that she was frightened, standing out there in the cold. He knew how she felt. It was those chills which only fear can put in you. He said, “I’m here to help you, ma’am. Why don’t you wait in the car where it’s warm? By the way, my name is Bryan Anderson.”


Well, all she had was a flat tire, but for an old lady, that was bad enough. Bryan crawled under the car looking for a place to put the jack, skinning his knuckles a time or two. Soon he was able to change the tire. But he had to get dirty and his hands hurt.As he was tightening up the lug nuts, she rolled down the window and began to talk to him. She told him that she was from St. Louis and was only just passing through. She couldn’t thank him enough for coming to her aid.


Bryan just smiled as he closed her trunk. The lady asked how much she owed him. Any amount would have been all right with her. She already imagined all the awful things that could have happened had he not stopped. Bryan never thought twice about being paid. This was not a job to him. This was helping someone in need, and God knows there were plenty, who had given him a hand in the past. He had lived his whole life that way, and it never occurred to him to act any other way.He told her that if she really wanted to pay him back, the next time she saw someone who needed help, she could give that person the assistance they needed, and Bryan added, “And think of me.”He waited until she started her car and drove off. It had been a cold and depressing day, but he felt good as he headed for home, disappearing into the twilight.

A few miles down the road the lady saw a small cafe. She went in to grab a bite to eat, and take the chill off before she made the last leg of her trip home. It was a dingy looking restaurant. Outside were two old gas pumps. The whole scene was unfamiliar to her. The waitress came over and brought a clean towel to wipe her wet hair. She had a sweet smile, one that even being on her feet for the whole day couldn’t erase. The lady noticed the waitress was nearly eight months pregnant, but she never let the strain and aches change her attitude. The old lady wondered how someone who had so little could be so giving to a stranger. Then she remembered Bryan.

After the lady finished her meal, she paid with a hundred dollar bill. The waitress quickly went to get change for her hundred dollar bill, but the old lady had slipped right out the door. She was gone by the time the waitress came back. The waitress wondered where the lady could be. Then she noticed something written on the napkin.

There were tears in her eyes when she read what the lady wrote: “You don’t owe me anything. I have been there too. Somebody once helped me out, the way I’m helping you. If you really want to pay me back, here is what you do: Do not let this chain of love end with you.”Under the napkin were four more $100 bills.

Well, there were tables to clear, sugar bowls to fill, and people to serve, but the waitress made it through another day. That night when she got home from work and climbed into bed, she was thinking about the money and what the lady had written. How could the lady have known how much she and her husband needed it? With the baby due next month, it was going to be hard….She knew how worried her husband was, and as he lay sleeping next to her, she gave him a soft kiss and whispered soft and low, “Everything’s going to be all right. I love you, Bryan Anderson.”There is an old saying


“What goes around comes around.”  ;D
Title: Re: Moral Stories
Post by: SS91 on December 15, 2010, 09:27:50 AM
“ Two Goats”

A very very narrow bridge was improvised connecting two high mountain tops. The bridge
was like a narrow wooden plank slung across the two mountain tops and had neither railings nor even ropes for protection. From the bridge, looking below, long way down, ran the treacherous rapids of a mighty river meandering through giant boulders.

One day, a mountain goat came along and wanted to go across the bridge to the other side of the mountain. The goat started walking over the narrow bridge. Mountain goats are surefooted animals and are fearless mountain climbers.

At about the same time, another goat started crossing the bridge from the other end. The two goats came face to face in the middle of the bridge. The bridge being very narrow, the two goats could not go past one another. And there was no way the goats could make about turns. There was absolutely no possibility that the goats could turn back.

The second goat spoke arrogantly to the first goat: "You are obstructing my path. Get out of my way, you silly goat!
I am in a hurry to go to the other side."

The first goat replied: "I was first to step on to the bridge and therefore I have the right to cross the bridge first."

The second goat retorted angrily: "I am the strongest goat around. I have never lost a fight with other goats. Look at my great big horns and think again. Either you quickly get out of my way or else…!"

The two goats started fighting. Their horns locked and it was indeed, a strange sight to behold.

High up above on a narrow bridge two goats could not come to terms with each other.

They threw caution overboard and as a result there ensued a battle between two fools.

Both goats lost their balance and fell to their certain deaths.

After one week, by a strange co-incidence, two other goats started crossing the bridge from the opposite ends. One goat from this end of the bridge and the other goat from the other end. And the two goats met in the middle of the bridge.

The first goat spoke most politely: "I beg your pardon sir! It was too late when I realised that you were also crossing the bridge from the other end. Anyway, I am much younger than you are. I have been taught by my parents and by my teachers that I must respect my elders and that we should be gentle and kind to all creatures.

Furthermore, I remember the advice that when confronted with any problem, first offer a prayer to the Lord and seek His guidance. Problems and solutions always go together. Think of a bath-towel. If one end of the towel is where problems like to reside then the other end of the towel is where solutions reside. Both ends go together wherever the
towel goes. Problems and solutions are inseparable. One has to merely search for the solution. I must first think about a clever solution."

The second goat said: "And what might that (solution) be?"

The first goat said: "Let me sit on this bridge with my head turned to one side so that you can slowly and carefully step over my back and cross over. I will then get up and be on my way."

Thus the two goats crossed the bridge safely.

"Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another.

Forgive as the Lord forgave you."
Title: Re: Moral Stories
Post by: SS91 on December 17, 2010, 09:45:16 AM
Sri Satchidananda Sadguru Sainath Maharaj Ki Jai!

A little boy got angry with his mother and shouted at her, "I hate you, I hate you." Because of fear of reprimand, he ran out of the house. He went up to the valley and shouted, "I hate you, I hate you," and the echo returned, "I hate you, I hate you."
 

Having never heard an echo before, he was scared, and ran to his mother for protection. He said there was a bad boy in the valley who shouted "I hate you, I hate you"

 

The mother understood and she asked her son to go back and shout, "I love you, I love you". The little boy went and shouted, "I love you, I love you," and back came the echo.  

 

That taught the little boy a lesson: Our life is like an echo. We get back what we give.


Title: Re: Moral Stories
Post by: v2birit on December 20, 2010, 04:37:11 AM
Sai baba "I Like you I Like you". Did anybody here the echo.  :D

That is true. "What you give, you get". I always feel there is a string overwhelming invisible force, that takes care of this law of God.

Om Sai Ram
Title: Re: Moral Stories
Post by: SS91 on December 20, 2010, 09:57:02 AM
Once upon a time there lived a lion in a forest. One day after a heavy meal. It was sleeping under a tree. After a while, there came a mouse and it started to play on the lion. Suddenly the lion got up with anger and looked for those who disturbed its nice sleep. Then it saw a small mouse standing trembling with fear. The lion jumped on it and started to kill it. The mouse requested the lion to forgive it. The lion felt pity and left it. The mouse ran away.

On another day, the lion was caught in a net by a hunter. The mouse came there and cut the net. Thus it escaped. There after, the mouse and the lion became friends. They lived happily in the forest afterwards.  


       ;D   
Moral : A friend in need is a friend indeed.
   ;D
Title: Re: Moral Stories
Post by: SS91 on January 04, 2011, 02:13:55 PM


The Golden Swan


Once upon a time, there was a swan / goose that had striking golden feathers. This swan lived in a pond. There was a house near this pond, where a poor woman lived with her two daughters. The people were really poor and were leading a tough life. The swan found that the poor mother was passing a hard time with her daughters.

The swan thought, “If I give them one after another my golden feathers, the mother can sell them. She and her daughters can live in comfort with the money raised from it”. After thinking this, the swan flew away to the poor woman’s house. On seeing the swan inside the house, the woman said,” Why have you come here? We have nothing to offer you”.

The Swan replied, “I have not come to take anything, but I have something to give you. I know your condition. I will give my golden feathers one by one and you can sell them. With the money raised through it, you people can easily live in comfort”. After saying this, the swan shed one of her feathers and then flew away. This became a regular feature and from time to time, the swan came back and every time left another feather.

Like this, the mother and her daughters were happily leading their life by selling the feathers of the golden swan. Each golden feather got them enough money to keep them in comfort. But the mother became greedy to get all the feathers as soon as possible. One day, she said to her daughters, “Now, we will not trust this swan, possibly she may fly away and never come back. If this would happen, we will be poor again. We will take all of her feathers, when she will come the next time”.

The innocent daughters replied, “Mother, this will hurt the swan. We will not cause any pain to her”. But the mother was determined to catch hold the swan the very next time she comes. Next time, when the swan came, the mother caught her and pulled out all of her feathers. Now, the golden feathers of the swan changed into some strange feathers. The mother was shocked to see such feathers.

The Golden Swan said, “Poor Mother, I wanted to help you, but you wanted to kill me instead. As per my wish, I used to give you the golden feather. Now, I think there is no need to help you. Now, my feathers are nothing more than chicken feathers for you. I am going from this place and will never come back”. The mother felt sorry and apologized for the mistake committed by her. The Golden Swan said, “Never be greedy” and flew away.  
Moral: Excess greed brings nothing.  
Title: Re: Moral Stories
Post by: SS91 on January 05, 2011, 10:02:45 AM
The Power of a Rumour
Once upon a time, it happened in a forest that a hare was resting under a banyan tree. He had an intuition of doom and thought, “What would happen to me, if the earth will break? “. Suddenly, he heard a weird striking sound. He said, “It’s happened, the earth is breaking up”. He jumped up and ran madly without even observing the direction.

When he was running through the forest, a hare saw him and asked, “What happened? Where are you going in such a hurry? “. The Hare cried,” The earth is breaking up. You better run too”. The second hare ran so fast that he overtook the first hare. As they were passing the forest, both of them shouted to other hares, “The earth is breaking up. The earth is breaking up”. Very soon, thousands of hares were running through the forest.

On seeing hares running through the forest, the other animals too got frightened. The news spread from mouth to mouth and soon, everyone came to know that the earth was breaking up. It didn’t take much time before all the animals joined the race. All creatures whether reptiles or birds, insects or four-footed animals, everyone was trying to escape and their cries of fear created chaos all around.

A lion standing on a hill saw all the animals running and thought,” What is the matter? “. He ran down the hill rapidly and positioned himself in front of the crowd. He shouted at them, “Stop! Stop! ”. The powerful presence of the lion curtailed the rising wave of fright among the animals. A parrot yelled, “The earth is breaking up”, alighting on a rock near him. The Lion asked,” Who said it? “. The parrot replied, “I heard it from the monkeys".

When the monkeys were asked, they replied that they had heard it from the tigers. When the tigers were asked, it was found that they were informed by the elephants. The elephants told that the buffaloes formed their source. Finally, when the hares were caught up, they pointed one to another until the one, who started this menace was recognized.

The Lion asked the hare, “What made you think that the earth is breaking up?” The hare wavering in fear answered, “Your Majesty, I heard it cracking with my own ears”. The Lion investigated the matter and explored the sound that the hare had heard. Ultimately, he came to know that the sound had been caused by a large coconut falling from a tree. The coconut fell on a pile of rocks causing a minor landslide.

The Lion said to all the animals, “ Go back to your homes. The earth is absolutely safe. Next time onwards, check a rumour before acting on it”. The animals, which were now looking quite stupid, went back to their homes.
Moral: Check a rumour before acting on it.
Title: Re: Moral Stories
Post by: SS91 on February 01, 2011, 06:40:32 PM
A Friend in Need…  



 
Once upon a time there lived four friends in a forest. They were very different from each other; yet, they were best friends and always came to each other's aid when required. The friends were: a mouse, a crow, a deer, and a tortoise. This is a story of how these friends, who ordinarily would have been natural enemies helped each other against their biggest enemy - Man, who was a hunter.

One-day, the mouse, crow, and deer were gossiping under a tree. They suddenly heard a scream. It was their friend, the tortoise! He was trapped in a hunter's net.

"Uh oh!" exclaimed the deer fearfully, "what do we do now?"

"Do not despair" said the mouse, "I have a plan" and the tree friends huddled together and decided on their plan of action.

The deer ran towards the hunter who was close to the tortoise caught in the net. He reached their without the knowledge of the hunter, and lay down in his path as though dead. The crow flew towards the deer and acted as though he were pecking at the deer. The hunter picked up the net and started walking home, when he suddenly laid eyes on the wondrous sight of a dead deer. "Hey, here is a deer, all ready for me" He thought and put down his net and walked towards the deer. The crow continued circling the deer, and flapping his wings furiously whenever the hunter tried to push him away. In the meantime, the mouse hopped to the tortoise and started chewing the threads of the net. As the crow kept the hunter at bay, the mouse freed the hunter. As soon as the crow saw that the tortoise was free, he let out a loud caw and flew away. The deer suddenly got up and ran! The hunter stood stunned and decided to go back to the tortoise, only to see that his net was torn, and the tortoise had escaped. "If only I hadn't been so greedy" he thought.

The four friends met again under the tree, and could not stop laughing at the trick that they had played on the hunter. Oh! What good friends they were, always their for each other!
  ;D ;D ;D


 
 
Title: Re: Moral Stories
Post by: SS91 on February 05, 2011, 03:52:14 PM
Maharana Pratap    

Your dreams come true and you become successful if you have determination and a strong will. God helps those who help themselves. There is nothing impossible in the world for those with will power and unyielding determination. Although, Bharat’s history is full of such examples that convey this message, Maharana Pratap’s example is the unique one. The Rajputs (a community in Northern Bharat) are brave, chivalrous and gallant people. They were the first to resist the Mughal invaders. Many wars were fought between the Rajputs and the Mughals. Rajputs of Mewar (a province in Northern Bharat) surpassed all in deeds of bravery and personal sacrifice.
Maharana Udai Singh II ruled the kingdom of Mewar (province of Northern Bharat), with his capital at Chittor. Maharana Pratap was his eldest son who was given the title of Crown Prince.

Those days, Mughal King Akbar wanted to rule the whole of Bharat and used forces to over come the Rajput kings. As a result, almost all major Rajput Kings surrendered to Akbar, but Maharana Pratap didn’t!! In fact, Maharana Pratap and his few loyal Rajput chieftain took pledge in front of Goddess Kali, “Hey Kali!! We take a pledge that we will not sleep on a bed but on the ground. We will not wear any fancy clothes until we defeat our enemies!!”

Mughal King Akbar sent his associate ManaSingh to convince Maharana Pratap. In his meeting with Maharana, ManaSingh asked, “Why don’t you join Akbar?” Maharana replied back, “I have not sold my honor to Akbar!! Rajputs like their honor most. You are not true Rajput!!”. ManaSingh furiously said, “I came as a friend and you have insulted me. You shall pay for this”. Maharana bravely replied, “Very well then!! we shall meet in the battle!!” At last Akbar and ManaSingh decided to use  force against Maharana Pratap.

The great battle between Maharana Pratap and ManaSingh was fought in the valley of Haldi-Ghati in June 21 1576. Maharana had only twenty thousand soldiers where as ManaSingh and his associate Salim had eighty thousand soldiers. There wasn’t any possibility of winning the battle. Maharana thought, “If I somehow manage to kill ManaSingh, there is a slight chance of winning the battle”

Maharana Pratap advanced towards ManaSingh without any support or backup. ManaSingh was riding an elephant. Pratap, riding a horse Chetak, attacked him like a fierce lion. He threw his spear aiming at ManaSingh, but elephant moved and spear missed its target. Soon Maharana was surrounded from all sides by enemy soldiers. But he was saved by his wise horse Chetak, who took him in an unconscious state away from the battle scene. Chetak was also badly wounded, but he did not stop until he took his master to safe place.

Maharana fought bravely. In this battle he lost almost all his army. After the battle, he and his family lived in exile. But he didn’t give up. He again started raising army with the help of his friend Bhama Shah and Bhil Tribals. Bhama Shah helped him raise the money and weapons. Bhil Tribals provided him with man-power.

Maharana Pratap fought relentlessly for fifteen years to get his kingdom back. By the end of 1584, he managed to liberate his most of the lost territories. But he could not get his Chittor (Capital of Mewar) back. It was still occupied by the enemies. His dream was partially fulfilled. After the relentless efforts, he died in 1597.

“Where there is a will, there is a way”   is a familiar and well-known saying. This saying underlines a very vital fact of life, very few truly understand and practice it. Maharana Pratap practiced it. He did not give up until his last breath.   
Title: Re: Moral Stories
Post by: SS91 on February 08, 2011, 10:30:23 AM
Beware of Mean Friends

This is one more interesting story from the Hitopadesha Tales. Once upon a time, there lived a Lion by the name of Madotkata in a forest. Among his followers, a Jackal, a Crow and a Wolf had developed friendship with him. However, all the three had a selfish motive behind this so-called friendship. They knew that the Lion was the King of the forest and friendship with such fierce creature would always help them. To meet their selfish ends, they started obeying and were always available at the service of the Lion.

They didn’t have to make any efforts to search for their food, as the Lion used to give his leftover meals to them. Moreover, they became powerful as they were next to the King of the forest. So like this, all the three selfish friends were passing their days happily being the friends of the Lion. One day, a Camel, who came from some distant land, lost his way and entered the same forest where these friends lived. He tried his best to find out the way, but could not make it.

In the meantime, these three friends happened to pass through the same way where the Camel was wandering. When they saw the Camel, at once it came to their mind that he didn’t belong to their forest. The Jackal suggested to his other two friends, “Let’s kill and eat him”. The Wolf replied, “It is a big animal. We could not kill him like this. I think, first we should inform our King about this Camel”. The Crow agreed upon the idea given by the Wolf. After deciding, all of them went to meet the Lion.

On reaching the Lion’s den, the Jackal approached the Lion and said, “Your Majesty, an unknown Camel has dared to enter your kingdom without your consent. His body is full of flesh and he could make a nice meal for us. Let’s kill him”. The Lion roared loudly on hearing this and said, “What are you saying? The Camel has come for refuge in my kingdom. It is unethical to kill him like this. We should provide him the best shelter. Go and bring him to me”. All of them got dispirited to hear such words from the King.

They unwillingly went to the Camel and told him about the desire of the Lion, who wanted to meet him. The Camel was scared to know about the strange offer. He thought that his last moment had come and in a little while he would become the meal of the Lion. As he couldn’t even escape, so he decided to meet the Lion and left everything on the destiny. The selfish friends escorted the Camel to the Lion’s den. The Lion was happy to see the Camel. He welcomed him warmly and assured him of all the safety in the forest during his stay.

The Camel was totally amazed to hear the Lion’s words. He got very happy and started living with the Jackal, the Crow and the Wolf. One day, when the Lion was hunting for food, he had a struggle with a mighty Elephant. The Lion got badly injured in the struggle and became incapable of hunting for his food. Stricken by bad luck, the Lion had to sustain without food for days. Due to this, his friends too had to go hungry for days as they totally depended on the Lion’s kill for their food. But the Camel was satisfied grazing around in the forest.

All the three friends got worried and discussed the matter among them. On reaching a conclusion, they approached the Lion and said, “Your Majesty, you are getting weak day by day. We can’t see you in this wretched condition. Why don’t you kill the Camel and eat him?” The Lion roared, “No. How can you think such thing? He is our guest and we should not kill him. Don’t give such suggestions to me in future”. As the jackal, the crow and the wolf had set their evil eyes on the camel; they met once again and devised a plan to kill the Camel.

They went to the Camel and said, “Dear Friend, you know our King has not eaten anything from the past many days. He is unable to go for hunting due to his wounds and sickness. Under such circumstances, it becomes our duty to sacrifice ourselves to save the life of our king. Come with us, we will offer our bodies to make his food”. The Camel didn’t understand their plan, but innocently he nodded in favor of their plan. All of them approached the den of the Lion.

First of all, the Crow came forward and said, “Your Majesty, we didn’t succeed in getting any food for you. I can’t see you like this. Please eat me and make me obliged”. The Lion replied, “Dear, I will prefer to die than to perform such a sinful deed”. Then, the Jackal came forward and said, “Your Majesty, Crow’s body is too small to satisfy your appetite. I offer myself to you, as it is my duty to save your life”. The Lion politely rejected the offer. As per the plan, now it was the turn of the Wolf to offer himself to the King.

So, the Wolf came forward and said, “Your Majesty, Jackal is quite small to gratify your hunger. I offer myself for this kind job. Please kill me and satisfy your hunger”. After saying this, he lay prostrate before the Lion. But the Lion didn’t kill any of them. The Camel, who was watching the whole scene felt reassured of his safety and also decided to go forward and complete the formality. He marched forward and said, “Your Majesty, why don’t you kill me. You are my friend. A friend in need is a friend indeed. Please allow me to offer you my body”.

The Lion found the offer quite appropriate, as the Camel himself had offered his body for food, his ethics were maintained. The Lion attacked the Camel at once, ripped open his body and tore him into pieces. The Lion and his friends ate the delicious flesh to their fill. They feasted on the poor Camel for days together.




Moral: Beware of Mean Friends.


Title: Re: Moral Stories
Post by: shekarvani on February 09, 2011, 12:12:39 AM
Very nice and useful stories. Thank you for the stories.
Title: Re: Moral Stories
Post by: arti sehgal on March 09, 2011, 02:07:37 AM
Moment of Truth
 
There was a young student-archer who reached such proficiency in his art that he could shoot an arrow into a tree and then cleave that arrow into two with the next shot. He began to boast that he was a greater archer than his guru.
One day his guru, a venerable old man in his 70's, asked the youth to accompany him on a trip across the hills. The journey was uneventful until they came to a deep chasm.
A single log spanned the chasm. The guru walked down to the centre of the log, unshouldered his bow and taking an arrow shot it into a tree on the other side. His next shot cleaved the first arrow into two.
"Now it's your turn," he said, walking back to where his student was standing.
The youth stepped gingerly on the log and very slowly and carefully made his way to the middle. But his heart was in his mouth. He knew that if he lost his footing, he would plunge to his death. His hands trembled as he strung an arrow into his bow. Preoccupied with the danger he was in, he found it hard to focus on the target. Consequently when he let go of the arrow, it missed the tree altogether. Whimpering, he turned around.
"Help me!" he shouted to his guru. "I'll fall!"
The old man walked up to him, took his hand and stepping backwards led him to safety. Neither of them said a word on the return journey but the boy had much to think about. He had realised that to be a master of his art it was not enough to know how to control the bow, he had to learn how to control his mind too.

 
Title: Re: Moral Stories
Post by: arti sehgal on March 09, 2011, 02:16:25 AM
MORAL VALUES

Idle mind is always devil.

Time is very precious.

sleep is for relaxation but not for enjoyment.

Good character, depth of knowledge, and positive intelligence are the real assets of man.

Performing duties, fulfilling responsibilities, keeping up his words, and not hurting others are the characteristics of a gentleman.

Love and care are the two eyes of God.

Helping others is the real savings in life; help is savings and enjoyment is spending in one's life account.

Respect and love lift you up; egoism and absolute selfishness push you down.

Hard struggled achievement is success, and not trying for it is failure.

Failure is the first step towards success.

Fear for failure and acceptance of helplessness are the villains for coming-up.

In the war of temptation between heart and mind, always:   heart should win when concerned with others; and mind should win when  concerned with self.

Keeping more than one's needs is the debit, and helping others in need is the credit in life's account.

Exploiting helplessness is an unpardonable crime.

person always useful to others with perfect conscious is the pet of  God; and selfish fellow, especially at other's cost, is the pet of satan.

Will-Power is the only power by which one can achieve anything in this world.

While judging other's action, intention is more important than action.

Without health and wealth no enjoyment in life.

Egoism is a liability and selfishlessness is an asset in one life's balance sheet.

Positive intelligence, approach and attitude, and contentment only bring peace-of-mind.

Title: Re: Moral Stories
Post by: arti sehgal on March 09, 2011, 02:24:00 AM
“A POND FULL
OF MILK.”
Once there was a king who told some of his workers to dig a pond. Once the pond was
dug, the king made an announcement to his people saying that one person from each
household has to bring a glass of milk during the night and pour it into the pond. So,
the pond should be full of milk by the morning. After receiving the order, everyone
went home.
One man prepared to take the milk during the night. He thought that since everyone
will bring milk, he could just hide a glass of water and pour inside the pond. Because it
will be dark at night, no one will notice. So he quickly went and poured the water in the
pond and came back. In the morning, the king came to visit the pond and to his
surprise the pond was only filled with water! What has happened is that everyone was
thinking like the other man that “I don't have to put the milk, someone else will do it.”
Dear friends, when it comes to help the Religion of Allah, do not think that others will
take care of it. Rather, it starts from you, if you don’t do it, no one else will do it. So,
change yourself to the way of Allah to serve Him and that will make the difference.
Title: Re: Moral Stories
Post by: arti sehgal on March 09, 2011, 02:46:38 AM
A long time ago, there was a huge apple tree. A little boy loved to come and play around it
everyday. He climbed to the treetop, ate the apples, and took a nap under the shadow. He loved the
tree and the tree loved to play with him. Time went by, the little boy had grown up and he no
longer played around the tree every day.
One day, the boy came back to the tree and he looked sad.
“Come and play with me”, the tree asked the boy.
“I am no longer a kid, I do not play around trees any more”
the boy replied.
“I want toys. I need money to buy them.”
“Sorry, but I do not have money, but you can pick all my apples
and sell them. So, you will have money.”
The boy was so excited. He grabbed all the apples on the tree and
left happily. The boy never came back after he picked the apples.
The tree was sad.
One day, the boy who now turned into a man returned and
the tree was excited.
“Come and play with me” the tree said.
“I do not have time to play. I have to work for my family. We need a house for shelter.
Can you help me?”
“Sorry, but I do not have any house. But you can chop off my branches to build your house.” So the
man cut all the branches of the tree and left happily. The tree was glad to see him happy but the
man never came back since then. The tree was again lonely and sad.
One hot summer day, the man returned and the tree was delighted.
“Come and play with me!” the tree said.
“I am getting old. I want to go sailing to relax myself. Can you give me a boat?” said the man.
“Use my trunk to build your boat. You can sail far away and be happy.”
So the man cut the tree trunk to make a boat. He went sailing and never showed up for a long time.
Finally, the man returned after many years. “Sorry, my boy. But I do not have anything for you
anymore. No more apples for you”, the tree said. “No problem, I do not have any teeth to bite” the
man replied.

“No more trunk for you to climb on.” “I am too old for that now” the man said.
“I really cannot give you anything, the only thing left is my dying roots,” the tree said with tears.
“I do not need much now, just a place to rest. I am tired after all these years,” the man replied.
“Good! Old tree roots are the best place to lean on and rest, come sit down with me and rest.”
The man sat down and the tree was glad and smiled with tears.
This is a story of everyone. The tree is like our parents. When we were young, we loved to play with
our Mum and Dad. When we grow up, we leave them; only come to them when we need something
or when we are in trouble. No matter what, parents will always be there and give everything they
could just to make you happy.
You may think the boy is cruel to the tree, but that is how all of us treat our parents. We take them
for granted; we don’t appreciate all they do for us, until it’s too late. Wallahi, May Allah forgives us
of our shortcomings and may He guide us.
Title: Re: Moral Stories
Post by: arti sehgal on March 10, 2011, 12:20:06 AM
THE ANGEL
Once upon a time there was a child ready to be born. One day the child asked God, “They tell me
you are going to send me to earth tomorrow but how am I going to live there being so small and
helpless?” God replied, “Among the many angels I have chosen one for you. She will be waiting for
you and will take care of you.”
Said child, “But tell me here in Heaven I don’t do anything else but sing and smile. That’s what I
need to be happy!” God replied, “Your angel will sing for you every day. And you will feel your
angel’s love and be happy.”
And, said the child, “How am I going to be able to understand when people talk to me, if I don’t
know the language that men talk?” “That’s easy”, God said, “Your angel will tell you the most
beautiful and sweet words you will ever hear, and with much patience and care, your angel will
teach you how to speak.” The child looked up at God saying, “And what am I going to do when I
want to talk to you?” God smiled at the child saying, “Your angel will teach you how to pray.”
The child said, “I’ve heard on earth there are bad men. Who will protect me?” God replied, “Your
angel will defend you, even if it means risking life!” The child looked sad, saying, “But I will always
be sad because I will not see you anymore.” God replied, “Your angel will always talk to you about
me and will teach you the way to come back to
me, even though I will always be next to you.”
At that moment there was much peace in Heaven,
but voices from earth could already be heard.
The child in a hurry, asked softly, “Oh God, if
I am about to leave now please tell me my angel’s
name!” God replied, Your angel’s name is of no
importance… you will simply call her
MOTHER!!!!
jai sairam
Title: Re: Moral Stories
Post by: arti sehgal on March 10, 2011, 12:29:40 AM
                                                  PAID IN FULL

A little boy came up to his mother in the kitchen one evening while she was fixing supper, and he
handed her a piece of paper that he had been writing on. After his mom dried her hands on an
apron, she read it, and this is what it said:
For cutting the grass: $5.00
For cleaning up my room this week: $1.00
For going to the store for you: $.50
Baby-sitting my kid brother while you went shopping: $.25
Taking out the garbage: $1.00
For getting a good report card: $5.00
For cleaning up and raking the yard: $2.00
Total owed: $14.75
Well, his mother looked at him standing there, and the boy could see the memories flashing
through her mind. She picked up the pen, turned over the paper he had written on, and this is what
she wrote:
For the nine months I carried you while you were growing
inside me: No Charge.
For all the nights that I’ve sat up with you, doctored and
prayed for you: No Charge.
For all the trying times, and all the tears that you’ve caused
through the years: No Charge.
For all the nights filled with dread, and for the worries I
knew were ahead: No Charge.
For the toys, food, clothes, and even wiping your nose:
No Charge.
When you add it up, the cost of my love is: No Charge.
When the boy finished reading what his mother had
written, there were big tears in his eyes, and he looked
straight up at his mother and said, “Mom, I sure do love you.”
And then he took the pen and in great big letters he wrote:
" PAID IN FULL "
Title: Re: Moral Stories
Post by: arti sehgal on March 10, 2011, 06:59:18 AM
WORDS AND ACTIONS SHOULD BE THE SAME
There once was a boy who loved eating sweets. He always asked for sweets from his father. His
father was a poor man. He could not always afford sweets for his son. But the little boy did not
understand this, and demanded sweets all the time.
The boy’s father thought hard about how to stop the child asking for so many sweets. There was a
very holy man living nearby at that time. The boy’s father had an idea. He decided to take the boy
to the great man who might be able to persuade the child to stop asking for sweets all the time.
The boy and his father went along to the great man. The father said to him, “O great saint, could
you ask my son to stop asking for sweets which I cannot afford?” The great man was in difficulty,
because he liked sweets himself. How could he ask the boy to give up asking for sweets? The holy
man told the father to bring his son back after one month.
During that month, the holy man gave up eating sweets, and when the boy and his father returned
after a month, the holy man said to the boy “My dear child, will you stop asking for sweets which
your father cannot afford to give you?”
From then on, the boy stopped asking for sweets.
The boy’s father asked the saint, “Why did you not ask
my son to give up asking for sweets when we came to
you a month ago?” The saint replied, “How could I ask a
boy to give up sweets when I loved sweets myself. In the
last month I gave up eating sweets.” A person’s example
is much more powerful than just his words. When we ask
someone to do something, we must do it ourselves also. We should not ask others to do what we do
not do ourselves.
Always make sure that your actions and your words are same.
Title: Re: Moral Stories
Post by: arti sehgal on March 10, 2011, 07:00:53 AM
YOU'RE FAR MORE PRECIOUS THAN DIAMONDS AND PEARLS
“If memory serves me correctly, I was wearing a little white tank top and a
short black skirt. I had been raised Orthodox Muslim, so I had never before
worn such revealing clothing while in my father’s presence. When we finally
arrived, the chauffer escorted my younger sister, Laila, and me up to my
father's suite.
As usual, he was hiding behind the door waiting to scare us. We exchanged
many hugs and kisses as we could possibly give in one day. My father took a
good look at us. Then he sat me down on his lap and said something that I
will never forget.
He looked me straight in the eyes and said, “Hana, everything that God
made valuable in the world is covered and hard to get to. Where do you find
diamonds? Deep down in the ground covered and protected. Where do you
find pearls? Deep down at the bottom of the ocean covered up and protected in a beautiful shell.
Where do you find gold? Way down in the mine, covered over with layers and layers of rock.
You’ve got to work hard to get to them.”
He looked at me with serious eyes. “Your body is sacred. You’re far more precious than diamonds
and pearls, and you should be covered too.
jai sairam
Title: Re: Moral Stories
Post by: arti sehgal on March 11, 2011, 12:07:52 AM
                                                WHAT IS A FAMILY?

A man came home from work late, tired and irritated,
to find his 5-year old son waiting for him at the door.
SON: “Daddy, may I ask you a question?”
DAD: “Yeah sure, what is it?” replied the man.
SON: “Daddy, how much do you make an hour?”
DAD: “That’s none of your business. Why do you ask such a thing?” the man said angrily.
SON: “I just want to know. Please tell me, how much do you make an hour?”
DAD: “If you must know, I make $20 an hour.”
“Oh,” the little boy replied, with his head down. Looking up, he said,
“Daddy, may I please borrow $10?”
BEAUTIFUL GIFT!
The father was furious, “If the only reason you asked that is so you can borrow some money to buy
a silly toy or some other nonsense, then you march yourself straight to your room and go to bed.
Think about why you are being so selfish. I work hard everyday for such this childish behavior.”
The little boy quietly went to his room and shut the door. The man sat down and started to get even
angrier about the little boy’s questions. How dare he ask such questions only to get some money?
After about an hour or so, the man had calmed down, and started to think: Maybe there was
something he really needed to buy with that $10 and he really didn’t ask for money very often.
The man went to the door of the little boy’s room and opened the door.
“Are you asleep, son?” He asked. “No daddy, I’m awake,” replied the boy.
“I’ve been thinking, maybe I was too hard on you earlier,” said the man. “It’s been a long day and
I took out my aggravation on you. Here’s the $10 you asked for.”
The little boy sat straight up, smiling. “Oh, thank you daddy!” He yelled.
Then, reaching under his pillow he pulled out some crumpled up bills.
The man, seeing that the boy already had money, started to get angry again.
The little boy slowly counted out his money, and then looked up at his father.
“Why do you want more money if you already have some?” the father grumbled.
“Because I didn’t have enough, but now I do,” the little boy replied.
“Daddy, I have $20 now. Can I buy an hour of your time? Please come home early tomorrow.
I would like to have dinner with you.”
Share this story with someone you like.... But even better, share $20 worth of time with someone
you love. It’s just a short reminder to all of you working so hard in life.
We should not let time slip through our fingers without having spent some time with those who
really matter to us, those close to our hearts.
If we die tomorrow, the company that we are working for could easily replace us in a matter of
days.
But the family & friends we leave behind will feel the loss for the rest of their lives. And come to
think of it, we pour ourselves more into work than to our family. An unwise investment indeed!
So what is the moral of the story???
Don’t work too hard...and you know what’s the full word of FAMILY?
FAMILY = (F)ATHER (A)ND (M)OTHER,(I)(L)OVE (Y)OU!
Title: Re: Moral Stories
Post by: SS91 on March 14, 2011, 07:10:54 PM
Heaven And Hell  

 
Once a group of people wanted to know what makes for hell and what makes heaven. Where all suffer, it is called hell and where all enjoy it is called heaven. So the committee of the above persons wanting to know how hell is made, first went to hell where all people were suffering. What they saw in hell surprised them very much because hell looked a very rich place where every enjoyable object was available in plenty. Why should any one suffer here, they wondered.

As it was the lunch time in hell, all denizens of hell were in the dining hall and the committee went to investigate whether there was any food problem. Again what met their eyes surprised them beyond words because the dining table was full with a variety of delicacies in abundance and no one need starve for lack of food. Yet the most puzzling thing of all was the fact that all the hell-dwellers who were gathered there looked famished, hungry and angry. They were quarrelling and shouting at one another blaming one another in abuse language.

The members of the investigation committee closely scrutinized the people who were thus quarrelling and fighting. They found that the persons in hell had no elbow joints in their arms because of which they were unable to bend their hands and feed themselves though food was plenty available. So all of them starved and had no joy.

The committee felt that it was cruel joke to play upon people. Why give them plenty of food if it was not meant to feed themselves?

They wished to see how things were in heaven and went there in time to see the heavenly beings at lunch. The heaven was exactly like hell... looked very rich with all enjoyable things of life. As they approached the dining hall they could hear the loud cries of satisfaction and joy emanating from the hall. The committee members hastened to the hall to witness such an exuberance of joy. The dining table was full with delicacies just as in hell. The people looked happy, well-fed and contented and they were still eating. Now the committee members watched carefully how their arms were. Here too the arms of the denizens were without elbow joints. They too could not bend their forearms to feed themselves. Still they were not unhappy. They understood that the plenty of food in front of them was not given to them to feed themselves but was meant for serving others. So they all collected enough food from the table and fed the others. When each one fed the others, all of them got plenty to eat and nobody famished. All were happy and it became heaven. In the other place they did not know that the hands were given to serve others. When they tried to serve themselves they could not, and it became hell.

 
 
 
Title: Re: Moral Stories
Post by: shekarvani on March 14, 2011, 10:36:24 PM
om sai ram

Excellent story, I will never forget this story. Thank u so much for sharing such a beautiful story.
Title: Re: Moral Stories
Post by: SS91 on March 30, 2011, 04:48:22 PM

Everything happens for the good  
 
In one of India's little kingdoms of long ago there lived a King who (like most of them) was fond of hunting in wild places. His Chief Advisor was a very intelligent man, and also a very optimistic one. He was famous for seeing the rosy side of things. In fact, so strong was his habit of finding good in everything that at times this annoyed his ruler.

One day when the King and his Advisor were on a hunting trip through a dense jungle which went on for miles, the King decided to have a fresh coconut for his breakfast, and, finding a coconut tree near at hand, with his sword cut down a coconut. But as luck would have it, his sword slipped in his hand and came crashing down on one of his toes, cutting it off! Limping over to his Advisor with loud shouts of pain, he was terribly shocked to hear the latter say, "Ah, that's wonderful!"

"What?!" yelled the King; "I cut off my toe and you say it is wonderful?"

"This is a real blessing," replied the Advisor. By now the King was furious, thinking the man was making fun of him.

"Take it from me," said his Advisor, "behind this apparent bad accident there is some good which we cannot now see." That was it! The King had noticed a dry well nearby, and being a strong man, he picked up his companion and just threw him into that well. Then he set out to limp back to his fortified town and castle.

This meant, however, walking through dense jungle, frequented by the wild tribes of those days, some of whom were headhunters. On his way the King met a band of those headhunters, who decided that, being royalty, he would make an excellent sacrifice for this month's festival. As you may imagine, the King did not feel at all honored by this decision. The warriors carried him to the tribal priest. It was the duty of this priest to approve all of the offerings that were to be presented. The priest was most particular to see that the item to be offered to the gods was perfect in all respects. While anointing the King's body the priest noticed that he was lacking one toe.

"I am sorry," he told the King, "but we cannot use you after all for this holy sacrifice. The gods will not accept anyone who is not whole-bodied. You will have to go." Naturally the King was delighted and began hobbling away toward his palace. Aha! he thought, so his Advisor had been right -- there was indeed a hidden blessing behind that accident. As fast as his wounded leg would allow, he turned around and went back to the well where he had left his counselor. There he was, standing down in the well and whistling happily to himself.

Now the king managed to reach down far enough to grasp the hand of the Advisor and with great effort to pull him up. Then he apologized for having doubted him and having thought him a fool.

"Oh how sorry I am that I threw you in there," said the King as he dusted off his courtier. "I was taken prisoner by some wild native headhunters who were about to make me a sacrifice victim. Then they saw that my toe was missing, and let me go. And you foretold all this, in a way. Can you ever forgive me?"

"You need not apologize at all; it was a blessing that you threw me down the well and left me there."

"Now, how are you going to make something positive out of that?" queried the King. "Well," said the other, "if I had been with you they would surely have taken me for their sacrifice."


;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

Title: Re: Moral Stories
Post by: SS91 on March 30, 2011, 05:41:41 PM

God behind the gods


The gods and the demons had been having a war. Somehow the gods won, at least for the time being. But they did not realize that the power of Brahman, the Supreme Being, had made their victory possible. The gods took the credit themselves. When Brahman saw them congratulating each other, he decided to act, and to teach them a good lesson.

So he appeared before them in a form something like a ghost. The gods said to each other in great wonder, "What is this awesome spirit?"

Then they asked Agni, the god of fire, if he would try to find out who it was, and he agreed. He ran toward the spirit and that spirit said, "Stop! Who are you?"

"I am Agni, the god of fire," he proudly replied.

"I see. And what power do you have?" asked Brahman.

"Why, I can burn anything on the earth," said Agni.

So Brahman, in that spirit form, put a straw on the ground in front of him, saying, "is that so? Burn this, then!" Agni went toward it, his fiery breath crackling and arms ablaze, but in no way could he burn that straw, for some strange reason, no matter how hard he tried. Going back to the other gods, he told them shamefully that he had not been able to find out who that being was. Now they had to ask someone else to try.

This time they chose Vayu, the god of the wind. "You please try to find out who this spirit is," they said. Vayu agreed and ran boldly toward the spirit, who told him, "Stop! Tell me who you are."

"I am Vayu, god of air and wind," he answered.

"Oh! What power do you have?" asked Brahman.

"Why, I make hurricanes and cyclones. I can lift up anything on this earth," said Vayu.

"Is that so?" said the spirit, placing a straw in front of him. "Then lift up this!" Vayu rushed at it with a terrific noise but no matter how he huffed and puffed, the straw remained on the ground. He too returned to the gods, ashamed, and let them know that the spirit baffled him.

Finally the gods chose Indra, their highest and best, and asked him to do the job. Indra agreed to it. But when he approached that spirit, it suddenly disappeared! In its place was seen the shining form of the goddess Uma, a lovely woman adorned with gems, who is called the revealer of Truth. "Who is that spirit," Indra asked her, "whom we have been seeing here?"

"That is Brahman, the Supreme Spirit," she answered. "It is all due to the power of Brahman that you have had victory over the demons, and have become great. Don't you know that?"

Then Indra understood.

This story explains why Agni, Vayu and Indra rank higher than the other gods. They came "nearest" to Brahman. And, of these, Indra deserves first place, for it was to him that the Truth was first revealed. That Truth is Brahman, the desire of every heart. Meditate on him, the sages say, for those who know him are rare and very precious to the world.
Title: Re: Moral Stories
Post by: SS91 on March 30, 2011, 05:58:05 PM
Happiness


"Dad, everyone is looking for happiness. But what is meant by happiness?" This was one of the questions a wise boy in India, Sveta-ketu, put to his father many centuries ago.

"One of the signs of happiness, son, is that a person who has it becomes active. A person who does not find happiness does not feel like being active. His mind is cramped, his will is weak. What is vast and infinite brings happiness. There is no true joy in what is small or finite. I can tell you that the Infinite alone is happiness; but you must desire to understand this Infinite, my son."

"I want to understand it, Dad," said Sveta-ketu.

"Good," said his father. "Then you must listen carefully to what I say and think deeply about it:

"When a person sees that nothing and no one is separate from him, that he is one with all the people, animals, and objects in the universe, when a person sees and hears and knows nothing else -- that is the Infinite.

"But, if one sees or feels some other thing, obstructing him, separating him, then that is the finite. He has not yet found the Infinite.

"The Infinite never passes away; it lasts forever; but what is finite will pass away."


Title: Re: Moral Stories
Post by: SS91 on March 30, 2011, 07:24:45 PM
What the thunder says


You've been in a storm -- you know what thunder sounds like. But, do you know what the thunder is saying?

Ages ago, in India, sages meditated on the thunder and they tell this story.

When creation began, there was only the Creator. One of his names -- the one in this story -- is Prajapati. Tired of being alone, Prajapati gave birth to three kinds of beings: gods, men, and, of course, demons. (Demons always make stories more interesting!)

Well, as young people did in olden times, all these children had been studying with their father, living a disciplined life. The day came when that stage of life was finished and they were about to leave home and go out into their respective worlds -- the gods to their heavens, the men to earth, and the demons to the hells below.

Before leaving, the gods came to their father, Prajapati, saying, "Give us a final word, Sir, before we leave, if you please."

He was a close-mouthed old man, and besides, he wanted to test their learning, so he gave them even less than a word! He gave them only a syllable, the Sanskrit syllable "da".

"Have you understood me?" their father asked.

"Yes, Sir," said the gods, "that must be short for damyata, meaning 'be self-controlled'".

"Yes," said Prajapati.

Then it came the turn of the men to say goodbye. They too asked their father for a final word, but he gave them the same syllable, "da". "Have you understood?" he asked.

"Yes, Sir," said the men, "this must be short for datta, meaning 'give in charity'".

"Yes," said the father. And when the demons came, it was the same story. Prajapati said "da" and asked if they understood.

"Yes, Sir," said the demons (showing surprising intelligence), "it must be short for dayadhvam, and you mean 'be kind, be merciful'".

"Yes," said Prajapati. Then they all bowed down before him and went their ways.

 

What do you understand by this story?

The demons, you see, are very cruel by nature. But if they can somehow bring some kindness and mercy into their miserable lives, then there is hope for them to go up to a higher state.

Human beings, on the other hand, are better, but selfish; what they need is to help and serve one another on this earth. Then they too will become fit for rising higher.

Now the gods are busy enjoying themselves in heaven, and there they have such a good time that they forget about Truth and how to search for it. Without self-control, they will never find Truth.

So, Prajapati told each group the same thing, knowing full well that each sort of offspring would understand it in exactly his own way. Great teachers often do this.

So, it is said that, even today, when you hear the thunder's "da, da, da" it is the voice of old Prajapati, the Creator, repeating from time to time his instructions to all kinds of beings.
Title: Re: Moral Stories
Post by: SS91 on March 31, 2011, 08:03:43 AM
 

Sveta-ketu goes to school


Long ago in India, there was a boy named Sveta-ketu (shway-ta-kay-too). He was already twelve years old, but he had not yet gone to school. Probably he had no brothers or sisters and there was so much work for him to do at home, helping his parents, that there had been no way for him to go to the house of a learned teacher, which is where the pupils studied in those days. A boy had to live with the teacher and study with him the various branches of knowledge that were taught at that time.

The father of this boy said to him one day, "Sveta-ketu, go to school. You are a brahmin, of a wellborn family, and no one in our family line has failed to live up to that. A brahmin must be educated and learn how to behave nobly in every respect."

So Sveta-ketu went off to the local teacher's house and studied the great books, called The Vedas, and similar subjects, for twelve years. In that time, of course, he had been able to master many things, so he had quite a good opinion of himself. He walked proudly and smiled very little. When, at the age of twentyfour, he had come back to his parents, they were very happy to have him home again. But his father noticed the proud attitude in the boy and decided that there was only one word for Sveta-ketu: conceited!

One day he said, "Well, my boy, since you consider yourself a very serious person and well educated indeed, let me now test your knowledge. Did you ever ask your teacher for that instruction by which one hears the unhearable, perceives the unperceivable, and knows the unknowable?"

"How, sir," the young man answered, very much surprised, "can there be any such instruction?"

"Why, in this way, my boy: by knowing the nature of one lump of clay, we can know the nature of everything made of clay, can we not? The shapes of other things, such as a pot, a toy elephant, etc., are just names, given to help us talk about them. The reality in them is just the clay, is it not?"

"By knowing the nature of a nugget of gold, the nature of all gold things is known; likewise, by knowing the structure of a nailfile, we understand everything made of iron. The shapes and names we use for convenience. The reality is just the gold, or the iron."

"Yes, Father," said Sveta-ketu. "Surely my revered teachers did not know this; why did they not tell me? So, you please tell me about that."

His father agreed, and the instruction he gave his son, remembered by him and passed on to generations of students, takes up a large part of one of the Upanishads. Let's hear the beginning and a few other portions of that teaching.

 

"In the beginning, my boy," said the father, "there was just Being and nothing else. Some people said there was Nonbeing and nothing else, and that Being came out of that. But they were foolish! How could Being be produced by NonBeing?"

"It was just the opposite, son: in the beginning, there was just Being and nothing else. That Being felt lonely. It thought, 'Well, let me become many. Let me produce other things.' And so It produced the different elements of this universe, one after another." In this way, Sveta-ketu's father went on to explain to him the various stages of creation.

"There is more to growing up than you may think. Facts, gathered from books and teachers are all very well, but wisdom is to know that they all come from one source."

You are That!

Sveta-ketu's father continued:

"Every night, when they go into a state of dreamless sleep, all creatures enter again into that Being from which they have come. Then, why do they not know it?"

"When the bees make honey by collecting the nectar of different trees and reduce them all to one juice, these nectars cannot say, 'I am the nectar of an orange blossom,' 'I am the nectar of a mango blossom,' etc. In the same way, my boy, all these creatures, though they have entered that Being, they cannot say what they are. When they return again to the waking state, whatever they are in this world -- a man, a tiger, a wolf, a boar, a worm, a fly, or a mosquito -- that is what they become again. They do not know that they have come back from that Being."

"Suppose there is a hidden treasure of gold lying buried in a field. People who do not know about it will walk again and again over that treasure and will not find it. Just so, all of us go, day after day, into the embrace of that divine Being but do not realize it. The Self of this whole universe is the same as the Seed from which it came. And you, O Sveta-ketu, are That!"

"But, sir," asked the son, "that Being has no name or form. So, how could this universe, with all its objects having all these names, come out of that?"

"Bring me a fig from our figtree," his father suggested. Sveta-ketu went out and came back with a fig from the tree.

"Now break it."

"Yes, it is broken."

"What do you see now?"

"Seeds -- hundreds of them."

"Now break one of the seeds, son."

"That is difficult, sir. But here, it is done."

"Do you see anything inside?"

"No, sir, there is nothing inside."

"Sveta-ketu, just because you cannot see it, that does not mean that there is not a fine principle at work in the seed, which is the cause of the whole fig tree. Believe me, my boy, the Self of this whole universe is the same as the tiny seed from which it came. And you are That!"

Now Sveta-ketu was puzzled and had a doubt in his mind: if some principle, called Being is the cause of all this world, why do we not see that? So, he asked his father, who replied:

"Here is a lump of salt. Put this lump in a vessel of water, and I will see you again in the morning." His son did so. Next morning, when he came, his father asked him to bring him that lump of salt. Sveta-ketu looked into the vessel, but of course the salt had dissolved.

"Taste some water from the surface of the vessel," said his father, "and tell me how it is."

"Salty," Sveta-ketu said.

"Now taste a little from the other side and tell me how that is."

"Salty, Sir."

"Now carefully pour off most of the water and try a little from the bottom of the pot." This done, Sveta-ketu replied that it tasted salty too.

"You could not perceive the salt with your eyes, you had to apply the sense of taste. So, also, in this body of ours -- that Being is not perceived by eyes or tongue or any of the senses, but it is here nevertheless. It has to be discovered by a different means."

( Later he will explain the means: meditation and discrimination.)

"The Self of this whole universe is the same as the tiny seed it came from. And you, O Sveta-ketu, are That!"


Title: Re: Moral Stories
Post by: SS91 on April 03, 2011, 11:32:50 AM
Questions for Angiras


In ancient India, a very wise man named Angiras (Ung-gee-ross) lived in a hut in the forest. He had inherited all his wisdom from his father, grandfather and great-grandfather. One day he was seated in front of the hut when a young man from the village came up to him. This was a man well-known as the owner of land, wise in the ways of the world. He said to the sage, "People speak of knowing this subject and that science, and they brag about it; I want to know from you if there is something I can learn which will explain everything to me."

Angiras looked at him steadily. "There are really two kinds of knowledge," he replied, "and one of them is higher and the other is lower. The lower knowledge is of hymns and scriptures, rituals, grammar, poetry, astrology and other such sciences... but the higher knowledge leads a man to that which never dies. That is called the Indestructible."

"Yes, sir," said the young man. "That is what I want to know about."

"Then, listen well. The Indestructible cannot be picked up like this stick or that stone. It belongs to no family, nor to any caste. It neither sees nor hears, It has no hands or feet, It is forever. Wherever you go It is there; you cannot leave It; It is all around you.

"But It is very fine, very subtle, and that is why you do not see It. Everything else has come out of this Indestructible, you see. You know how a spider spins out her thread from her own body, and draws it back with her arms, or how plants grow from the soil, or how hair grows on a person's body. In that same way, the whole universe emerges from that Indestructible Being.

Thus did my ancestors see in their wisdom, and thus did they impart the knowledge to me, and, more than that, thus have I seen for myself."

"Sir," the young man said, "I need you to teach me more. I have been thinking within myself, 'What am I working toward, after all, in this short life? Just to satisfy some little desires? But how can that lead me to something which is forever?' So I decided to gather some firewood and go in search of a teacher of holy wisdom. And people told me about you. 'Is he learned,' I asked, 'one whose mind is filled with Truth?' Now I come to you in all faith and reverence: please teach me further."

In those days, the sages and saints, who made their homes in the fields or forests, lived a very simple life. They would build a small fire for performing the ceremonies prescribed in their scriptures, or for cooking their food and for warmth in the winter. So when a seeker of Truth wanted to become a pupil of such a sage, he would gather firewood in a bundle and go to him with this fuel as a gift and sign of respect.

Now Angiras understood that here was one whose mind was not constantly restless with desires, one who was fit to receive the higher knowledge. And he began to tell him more of the indestructible being called Brahman.

 

Fire
"As from a blazing fire, thousands of sparks of fire fly out, so these various beings you see in the world all spring forth from Brahman and go back to Him again. Pure, higher than the highest, He has no body, no breath, no mind; He is inside and outside everything. Yet, from Brahman have come your life, your mind, eyes, ears, hands, feet, space and air, light and water, and the very earth itself. It is He who binds all these together.

"About Him, my boy, they recite this poem:

'Fire is His head, His eyes are the sun and moon;
His ears, the directions -- north, south, east and west;
His breath is the wind, the Vedas his voice;
Under his feet the earth has sprung up,
And all things know Him as their innermost Self.'

"My boy, the man who knows this secret, hidden in the cave of the heart, breaks open, here and now, the knot of ignorance.

"The instruction I give you, called Upanishad, "Angiras went on, "will be your bow. Your mind, sharpened by worship and meditation, will be the arrow. Fixing it on the bow, with full concentration, draw back and hit the target, the Indestructible Brahman. There is a sacred word -- OM -- which is the bow; your own self is the arrow and Brahman is the target. Without trembling, hit the mark, and like the arrow, lose yourself in It! Then all the knots of the heart are broken, all doubts disappear and all actions trail away when He is realized, who is the farthest away of the far away, the nearest of the near, the light of lights."

"Sir," said the disciple, "you have called this Brahman my 'inner self'. Then tell me about how I can reach in to find this Self; how may I feel it is as my Self?"

Angiras replied, "I will give you an illustration."

 

Two birds in a tree
"This body is like a tree in which two birds roost. They look alike, wearing beautiful feathers, and they are fast friends. The lower bird is tasting the fruits of the tree and some are sweet but others are sour. The higher bird sits in majesty, merely looking on. One day, the lower bird, getting tired of all this, weeps at his forlorn state. Then, looking up at his friend above, so silent and so calm, he hops up nearer to him. As he approaches the higher bird, the lower one is surprised to find that the upper bird is just himself -- his true Self -- sitting there all the while, unattached and at peace. Then his grief disappears. Then he knows that his ego never was real; the Self was the real, the observer of all.

"This Self," Angiras continued, "cannot be reached by much talking or thinking, or even by great study of scriptures. If the Self itself chooses a man, that man may reach It. To him, this Self reveals Its true nature. But mark this well: That Self can never be won by one who is weak, or careless, or practices foolish bodily tortures. Only if a person tries by strength, by earnestness and right meditation, does he or she reach the home of Brahman."

"And, sir, what happens to one who reaches that?"

"Then, just as the many rivers flow into the one ocean, losing their names and forms, so the wise person, free from name and body, enters into that Divine Being, higher than the highest. My son, when you know that Brahman, you become that Brahman. You cross beyond all sorrow and evil. You become immortal."


Title: Re: Moral Stories
Post by: SS91 on April 08, 2011, 02:16:46 PM
One Mother, everywhere


You've often heard of God, the Father, creator of the universe. Have you ever heard of God, the Mother? Mothers create too, don't they? -- even more than fathers, because we draw our very life and nourishment from them. So, do not be surprised that in some countries and among some people, God is also worshiped as "Mother". This is especially true in India. Over there, October is the time when the year's crops of vegetables, grains and fruits are harvested. In the festival to celebrate this many people gather around images of "the Mother" -- beautiful, painted and decorated forms depicting the Divine Mother, looking just as they have imagined (or perhaps seen) Her, for centuries. They praise Her and sing hymns and dance in honor of Her who has given them land and crop, cattle and goods. In short, everything has come from the hand of the Mother, who is Creator, Sustainer and Dissolver of it all.

 

Here are two stories often told, about how one little boy, son of the Divine Mother Durga, discovered Her true nature. His name was Ganesha. He is considered to have been very wise, which is one reason he's shown in pictures with the head of an elephant!

 

Ganesha went outdoors one day to play and found a stray cat. Too small to know better, he began to pull her ears and tail. He roughed up that poor cat and even began to beat her with a stick, making marks on her head till, yowling, she ran for her life. Some hours later Ganesha went into the house. His mother, to his astonishment and dismay, was looking terrible. Her hair was a mess, she had scratches on her face and she limped from the bruises on her body.

"Mom!" cried Ganesha. "Who beat you up?"

Sadly Sri Durga replied, "It was you, I'm afraid."

"No way! What do you mean? I never did it!"

"Do you remember, his mother asked, "a while ago, how you treated a certain cat?"

Now Ganesha though that the cat's owner must have come and beat Mother Durga on account of him, and he burst into tears.

"Where is that man?" he sobbed.

"No, not that. You see, my boy, I am not just your physical mother. I have filled the whole universe with My Being. As a matter of fact, whatever you do to any least part of it, you do that to Me."

 

Some years later the Mother was sitting in her dressing room in a very lofty mood. She had recently been meditating and in that mood had become quite conscious of her own divinity. Now she put around her neck a lovely necklace of gems, a gift from her husband, Shiva. But seeing Ganesha and her other son, Kartik (Karteek), playing nearby, she said to them "Look, I will give this precious necklace to whichever of you comes back first, after traveling all around the universe. So run this race, but cover every mile of the universe."

Kartik immediately dropped what he was doing, went out, and finding the animal he most liked to ride upon (which was a magic steed), he set off on the long journey. He went as fast as he could, over the earth, out to the moon and planets, sailed through the galaxies and visited the asteroids, even peeping into a black hole or two. Almost exhausted, he recalled that he had to save energy enough to return. When Kartik finally reached home he saw his brother was already wearing the necklace of gems! Ganesha, you see, had become much wiser now: he had simply gone all the way around his Mother's body and then bowed down before Her. He knew full well that apart from Her there was no universe.

Title: Re: Moral Stories
Post by: SS91 on June 29, 2011, 07:03:51 AM
Learn  From  Failures

 

There  Is  This  Story  About  A  Famous

Research   Scientist  Who  Had  Made ,

Several  Very  Important  Medical  Breakthroughs.

He  Was  Being  Interviewed  By  A  Newspaper

Reporter  Who Asked  Him  Why  He ,

Thought  He  Was  Able  To Be  So  Much

Creative  Than  The  Average Person.

 

What  Set Him  So  Far Apart From Other?

He  Responded  That , In  His  Opinion

It  All  Came  From An  Experience  With His Mother  That  Occurred  When He  Was About

4 Years  Old, He  Had  Been Trying To Remove

A   Bottle  Of  Milk  From  The  Refrigerator ,

When  He  Lost  His  Grip On The  Slippery Bottle  And  It  Fell  Spilling  Its  Contents All Over  The  Kitchen  Floor - A  Veritable Sea Of  Milk".

 

When  His  Mother  Came  Into  The  Kitchen ,

Instead  Of  Yelling  At  Him,

Giving  Him  A  Lecture , Or  Punishing  Him ,

She  Said  "Robert  What  A  Great  And  Wonderful  Mess  You  Have  Made',

I  Rarely  Seen  Such  A Huge  Puddle  Of  Milk

Well  The  Damage  Has  Already  Been Done.

Would  You Like  To Get  Down And  Play  In

The  Milk  For  A Few Minutes  Before We Clean,

It  Up ?, Indeed  He  Did.

After  A Few  Minutes  His  Mother  Said , You Know  Robert, Whenever  You Make  A Mess Like  This  , Eventually  You  Have  To Clean It Up  And  Restore  Everything  To Its  Proper Order.

So  How  Would  Like To  Do That ?

We  Could  Use  A Sponge , A  Towel  Or  A Mop

Which  Do  You  Prefer ?

 

He  Chose  The  Sponge  And  Together They Cleaned  Up  The  Spilled  Milk.

His Mother Then Said, You Know  What We

Have  Here  Is  A  Failed  Experiment In How

Effectiely  Carry  A Big  Milk  Bottle  With Two Tiny  Hands , Let's  Go  Out In  The  Back Yard

And  Fill The  Bottle  With  Water  And See If

You  Can Discover  A  Way  To  Carry It  Without  Dropping  It".

The  Little  Boy  Learned  That If  He  Grasped

The  Bottle  At  The  Top  Near  The  Lip  With

Both  Hands , He  Could  Carry  It  Without Dropping  It , This  Renowned  Scientist  Then Remarked  That  It  Was  At  That  Moment

That  He  Knew  He  Didn't  Need  To Be Afraid

To Make  Mistakes.

Instead  He  Learned  That  Mistakes  Were Just

Opportunites  For  Experiments  Are  All About.

Even If  The  Experiment " Doesn't  Work" ,We Usually  Learn  Something  Valuable  From It.

 

 

Wouldn't It  Be  Great  If  All  Parents  Would

Respond  The  Way  Robert's  Mother Responed

To  Him ?,  Wouldn't  It  Be  Wonderful  If  We  Could  All  Respond  To  People  Who Manage In A  Similar  Manner  Too ?

Help  Someone  Learn  From His/ Her  Mistakes?.

 

 

My  Friend  Know  Your Self"

See  Your  Self"

Accept Your Self"

Be  Your Self"

Love Your Self"

Turst Your Self"

Remember  We  Are  Kept By  The Power Of God If  We  Let  Him  Keep Us.

Title: Re: Moral Stories
Post by: SS91 on July 06, 2011, 04:02:30 PM





How true is this.



 Mouse Story..a message. A mouse looked through the crack in the wall to see the farmer  and his wife open a package.

"What food might this contain?" The mouse wondered - he was devastated to discover  it was a mousetrap.
 
Retreating to the farmyard, the mouse proclaimed the warning.
 
"There is a mousetrap in the house!  There is a mousetrap in the house!"
 
The  chicken clucked and scratched, raised her head and said, "Mr. Mouse, I  can tell this is a grave concern to you, but it is of no consequence to  me.   I cannot be bothered by it."
 
The mouse turned to the pig and told him, "There is a mousetrap in the house!  There is a mousetrap in the house!"
 
The  pig sympathized, but said, "I am so very sorry, Mr.  Mouse, but  there is nothing I can do about it but pray.  Be assured you are  in my prayers."
 
The mouse turned to the cow and said "There is a mousetrap in the house! There is a mousetrap in the house!"
 
The cow said, "Wow, Mr.  Mouse.  I'm sorry for you, but it's no skin off my nose."
 
So, the mouse returned to the house, head down and dejected, to face the farmer's  mousetrap alone.
 
That very night a sound was heard throughout the house -- like the sound of a mousetrap catching its prey.
 
The  farmer's wife rushed to see what was caught.  In the darkness, she  did not see it was  a venomous snake whose tail the trap had  caught.
 
The  snake bit the farmer's wife.  The farmer rushed her to the  hospital, and she returned home with a fever.  Everyone knows you  treat a fever with fresh chicken soup, so the farmer took his hatchet  to the farmyard for the soup's main ingredient.
 
But  his wife's sickness continued, so friends and neighbours came to sit  with her around the clock. To feed them, the farmer butchered the pig.
 
The  farmer's wife did not get well; she died.  So many people came for  her funeral, the farmer had the cow slaughtered to provide enough meat  for all of them.
 
The mouse looked upon it all from his crack in the wall with great sadness.
 
So,  the next time you hear someone is facing a problem and think it doesn't  concern you, remember -- when one of us is threatened, we are all at  risk.
 
We  are all involved in this journey called life.  We must keep an eye  out for one another and make an extra effort to encourage one another.
  :)
Title: Re: Moral Stories
Post by: SS91 on July 08, 2011, 04:09:42 PM
Swami Vivekananda's Story On Blind Worship

Swami Vivekananda presented the traditional Vedic wisdom in a form that appeals to the new generation. He claimed that spirituality should be followed, with proper comprehension of the essence and not following blind worship, merely following rules without understanding them.

Swami Vivekananda says “To worship is inherent in every man's nature; only the highest
philosophy can rise to pure abstraction" He says that it is fine to worship God in any form, but with the understanding of the underlying divinity in the form and not just worshipping the form by itself. Swamiji narrates a short story that reveals the aforesaid truth.

A stag once boasted to about his horns its young one. “Look how beautiful and powerful my horns are! I can kill can human with these horns"

Just then they happened to hear the sound of hunters' bugle in a distance. They stag took to its heels with its young one following. When they reached a safer zone, he young one asked, “You said that you can kill any human with your powerful horns. But why did you run away at the sound of the bugle?"

The stag replied, “I know I have powerful horns, however when I hear that sound, something within me causes me to flee, forgetting the fact of my powerful horns!"

Swami Vivekananda points out in this short story, that when we hear the bugle sound of the rules laid down in the books, habits and old superstitions, before we realise, we are bound by them, forgetting our true essence, which is freedom.

This yet another story of Swami Vivekananda that is inspiring.

Title: Re: Moral Stories
Post by: SS91 on July 14, 2011, 02:43:25 PM
Grandmother's Basket -- a Tale from Germany

When Grandmother returns from Sunday service, her grand-daughter asks: "Grandma, what was the father preaching about in his sermon today?"
Grandmother shakes her head, "I can't remember, dear..." The girl, annoyed, returns "But then, why do you go to church at all when you don't remember what's said there!"
Grandmother smiles and empties her knitting basket. She hands it to the girl: "Please go and fetch me water!"
"In this basket, Grandma? Impossible! With all the gaps and cracks, it won't even hold a thimble full!"
Grandma, still smiling, says "Please!"
And the girl, though angry about this stupid old woman, goes and does as bidded. She returns, triumphantly: "I knew it, there won't stay a drop in it!"
Grandmother takes the basket and looks at it, scrutinizing: "But it is cleaner now, can't you see?"  ;D

Title: Power of Positive Talk
Post by: sateesh on September 24, 2011, 09:10:56 AM
Power of Positive Talk


A man was lost while driving through the countryside. As he tried to reach for the map, he accidentally drove off the road into a ditch. Though he wasn’t injured, his car was stuck deep in the mud. So the man walked to a nearby farm to ask for help.

“Warwick can get you out of that ditch,” said the farmer, pointing to an old mule standing in a field. The man looked at the decrepit old mule and looked at the farmer who just stood there repeating, “Yep, old Warwick can do the job.” The man figured he had nothing to lose. The two men and the mule made their way back to the ditch. The farmer hitched the mule to the car. With a snap of the reins, he shouted, “Pull, Fred! Pull, Jack! Pull, Ted! Pull, Warwick!”

And the mule pulled that car right out of the ditch.

The man was amazed. He thanked the farmer, patted the mule, and asked, “Why did you call out all of those names before you called Warwick?”

The farmer grinned and said, “Old Warwick is just about blind. As long as he believes he’s part of a team, he doesn’t mind pulling.”

 



OMSAIRAM ..:)
Title: Somethings are good for the soul!
Post by: PiyaSoni on October 11, 2011, 05:42:01 AM
Somethings are good for the soul!

Last week, I took my children to a restaurant.
My  six-year-old son asked if he could say  grace.
As  we bowed our heads he said, "God is good, God is great. Thank you  for
the food, and I would even thank you more if Mom gets us ice  cream for
dessert. And Liberty and justice for all!  Amen!"
Along with the laughter from  the other customers nearby, I heard a woman remark, "That's what's wrong  with this country. Kids today don't even know how to pray. Asking  God for ice cream! Why, I  never!"

Hearing this, my son burst into  tears and asked me, "Did I do it wrong? Is God  mad at me?"
As I  held him and assured him that he had done a terrific job, and God  was certainly not mad at him, an elderly gentleman approached the  table.

He  winked at my son and said, "I happen to know that God thought that  was a great  prayer."
"Really?" my son  asked.
"Cross my heart," the man  replied.

Then, in a theatrical whisper,  he added (indicating the woman whose remark had started this whole  thing), "Too bad she never asks God for ice cream. A little ice  cream is good for the soul sometimes."

Naturally, I bought my kids ice  cream at the end of the meal. My son stared at his for a moment, and  then did something I will remember the rest of my life.

He  picked up his sundae and, without a word, walked over and placed it  in front of the woman. With a big smile he told her, "Here, this is  for you. Ice cream is good for the soul sometimes; and my soul  is good already ."

The  End

What a great story!

Sometimes, we all need some ice  cream.
Title: Re: Moral Stories
Post by: SS91 on October 28, 2011, 03:00:07 PM
The Stone Cutter

Once upon a time there was a stone cutter. The stone cutter lived in a land where a life of privilege meant being powerful. Looking at his life he decided that he was unsatisfied with the way things were and so he set out to become the most powerful thing in the land.

Looking around his land he wondered to himself what is it to be powerful. Looking up he saw the Sun shining down on all the land. ""The Sun must be the most powerful thing that there is, for it shines down on all things, and all things grow from it's touch."" So he became the Sun.

Days later, as he shone his power down on the inhabitants of the land, there came a cloud which passed beneath him obstructing his brilliance. Frustrated he realized that the Sun was not the most powerful thing in the land, if a simple cloud could interrupt his greatness. So he became a cloud, in fact, he became the most powerful storm that the world had ever seen.

And so he blew his rain and lightning, and resounded with thunder all over the land, demonstrating that he was the most powerful. Until one day he came across a boulder.

Down and down he poured and his thunder roared, lightning flashed and filled the sky, striking the ground near the boulder. His winds blew and blew and blew, and yet, despite all his efforts, he could not budge the boulder. Frustrated again, he realized that the storm was not the most powerful thing in the land, rather it must be the boulder.
So he became the boulder.

For days he sat, unmovable, and impassive, demonstrating his power, until one day, a stone cutter came and chiseled him to bits.


Moral: Sometimes the most important thing to remember is that you have everything you need already, right inside of you. Power is an illusion.
Title: Re: Moral Stories
Post by: SS91 on November 11, 2011, 11:05:41 AM
Your life today is the result of your attitudes and choices in the past…”

This is a story of an elderly carpenter who had been working for a contractor for the past 53 years. He had built many beautiful houses but now as he was getting old, he wanted to retire and lead a leisurely life with his family. So, he goes to the contractor and tells him about his plan of retiring. The contractor feels sad at the prospect of losing a good worker but agrees to the plan because the carpenter had indeed become too fragile for the tough building work. But as a last request, he asks the old carpenter to construct just one last house.


The old man agrees and starts working but his heart was not in his work anymore. He had lost the motivation towards work. So, he resorted to shoddy workmanship and constructed the house half-heartedly. After the house was built, the contractor came to visit his employee's last piece of work. After inspecting the house, he handed over the front door keys to the carpenter and said, "This is your new house. My gift to you." The carpenter was shocked and upset. Had he known that he was building his own house, he would have done a better job!”.


Think of ourselves as the carpenter. Though we work hard every day, we put our least to some work, which we don't like and get shocked at a situation we have created for ourselves and try to figure out why we didn't do it differently.

 

Learn to enjoy your responsibilities with pleasure and not with pain. "Life is a do-it-yourself project". Do your job enthusiastically and with devotion, a positive output and a pleasing life will certainly be on your way.
 ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Moral Stories
Post by: SS91 on December 07, 2011, 02:30:08 PM
PRACTICE WHAT YOU PREACH  

Once upon a time there was a famine in the lowlands of India. The King of birds took his flock to the Himalayas in search of food.

The king said to his loyal subjects, "Now go and search for seeds and grain. Then report back to me so that we may all share the food."

The king’s loyal subjects obediently flew off in all directions.

 
 The king’s nephew Jaquita found a road where oxen pulled wagons loaded with grain.

"How lucky I am" Jaquita said. "Look at all the spilled grain!"

He flew to the ground and feasted for the first time in three days.

"I will keep this a secret and not tell the King" said Jaquita to himself.

"But if someone else finds the grain too?" thought Jaquita in distress.

Then he quickly consoled himself, "I know! I’ll tell everyone about it. But I’ll make up a story that will frighten them away."

Jaquita flew back to the flock.

"You’ve been away a long time," his friends said.

"Did you find any food?" the King asked.

"A little bit" Jaquita replied. "But I nearly lost my life. I happened to fly over a highway. There were elephants and horses, and wagons pulled by fierce bulls."

"There must have been plenty of grain there" inquired the King.

"There is, but it’s too dangerous!" answered Jaquita. "The elephants and carts will crush you as you feed."

 
The birds thanked Jaquita and said they would search for food elsewhere. The selfish Jaquita hurried back to the road with the grain.

"That was very clever of me" said Jaquita with satisfaction. "Now I have all this grain to myself."

He picked at the grain as an oxen cart came down the road. The cart speeded up as it came down the hill. Jaquita looked up when he heard the noise and felt the ground shake.

 
"Oh, no! It’s almost upon me," he cried.

But it was too late and he could not fly away. The cart ran him over.

 

Moral: "Selfishness often leads to trouble."
Title: Re: Moral Stories
Post by: SS91 on December 13, 2011, 08:10:22 AM

 
The evil you do remains with you: The good you do.....  

A woman baked bread for members of her family and an extra one for a hungry passerby.
She kept the extra bread on the Window-sill, for whosoever would take it away.
Every day, a hunch-back came and took away the bread. Instead of expressing gratitude,
he muttered the following words as he went his way:
"The evil you do remains with you: The good you do, comes back to you!"
This went on, day after day. Every day, the hunch-back came, picked up the bread and uttered the words: "The evil you do, remains with you: The good you do, comes back to you!"
The woman felt irritated. "Not a word of gratitude," she said to herself...
"Everyday this hunch-back utters this jingle! What does he mean?
"One day, out of despiration, she decided to do away with him. "I shall get rid of this hunch-back," she said. And what did she do? She added poison to the bread she prepared for him! As she was about to place it on the window sill, her hands trembled. "What is this I am doing?" she said.

Immediately she threw the bread into the fire, prepared another one and kept it on the window-sill.
As usual, the hunch-back came, picked up the bread and muttered the words:
"The evil you do, remains with you: The good you do, comes back to you!"
The hunch-back proceeded on his way, blissfully unaware of the war raging in the mind of the woman. Everyday, as the woman placed the bread on the window-sill, she offered a prayer for her son who had gone to a distant place to seek his fortune. For many months, she had no news of him.. She prayed for his safe return.
That evening, there was a knock on the door. As she opened it, she was surprised to find her son standing in the doorway.. He had grown thin and lean. His garments were tattered and torn. He was hungry, starved and weak. As he saw his mother, he said, "Mom, it's a miracle I'm here. While I was but a mile away, I was so hungry that I collapsed. I would have died, but just then an old hunch-back passed by. I begged of him for a small part of his food, and he was kind enough to give me a whole bread. "As he gave it to me, he said, "This is what I eat everyday: today, I shall give it to you, for your need is greater than mine!"
As the mother heard those words, her face turned pale and red. She leaned against the door for support. She remembered the poisoned bread that she had made that morning. Had she not burnt it in the fire, it would have been eaten by her own son, and he would have lost his life!


It was then that she realized the significance of the words: "The evil you do remains with you: The good you do, comes back to you!"
Do good and; Don't ever stop doing good, even if it's not appreciated at that time. ;D ;D


Contributed by: HSGRAO @ GMAIL.COM
Title: Re: Moral Stories
Post by: SS91 on January 05, 2012, 12:56:53 PM


Add the God Principle in our daily lives.The source of this inspiring story from India is shrouded in antiquity.[/b]Origins unknown.

(In the olden days when there were no motor cars, people used to travel on horseback.)

One rich man owned 19 horses when he died. In his last will and teastament he had written that upon his death, half the horses he owned should go to his only son; one fourth to the village temple and one fifth to the faithful servant.

The village elders could not stop scratching their heads. How can they give half of the 19 horses to the son? You cannot cut up a horse. They puzzled over this dilemma for more than two weeks and then decided to send for a wise man who was living in a neighbouring village.

The wise man came riding on his horse and asked the villagers if he can be of any help to them. The village elders told him about the rich man's last will and testament which stated that half of the (19) horses must be given to his only son, one fourth must go to the temple and one fifth to the faithful servant.

The wise man said he will immediately solve their problem without any delay whatsoever. He had the 19 horses placed in a row standing next to one another. Then he added his own horse as the 20th horse. Now he went about giving half of the 20 horses – that is ten horses to the son. One fourth of 20- that is 5 horses were given to the temple committee. One fifth of twenty- that is 4 horses were given to the faithful servant. Ten plus five plus four made 19 horses. The remaining 20th horse was his own which he promptly mounted, spoke a few inspiring words, and rode back home.

The villagers were simply dumfounded, full of disbelief and filled with admiration. And the parting words of the wise man were inscribed in their hearts and minds which they greatly cherished and passed on to their succeeding generations till today.

The wise man said: In our daily lives, in our daily affairs, simply add God’s name and then go about facing the day’s happenings. Ever come across problems in life that are seemingly insurmountable? (Like the villagers, do we feel that such problems cannot be solved?).

The wise man continued: Add the God Principle in our daily lives and the problems will become lighter and eventually will disappear. In the manner of the ice which, with the addition of the heat principle will turn into water, and that will eventually evaporate as steam and disappear. And how do we add God’s name (God principle) in our daily lives? Through prayers, filled with true love and devotion with sincerity of purpose and dedication that only total faith can bring about. Meditation is a powerful means of directing the mind Godward.

But without true love and devotion entering into it, it remains like a boat without water. It is not difficult to push a boat that is floating in water, but extremely hard to drag the same boat on dry land. In the same way, if our life’s boat floats on the waters of true love and devotion, we can sail easily in it. The principle of love of God and devotion with total faith, (like water) makes easy the voyage of our lives. When the mind is pure and the heart full of simplicity and holiness, such a devotee becomes an instrument in the service of the Lord.



JaiSairam... Thanks Baba for everything.... ;D
Title: Re: Moral Stories
Post by: SS91 on February 28, 2012, 09:36:17 AM


Shine

(http://api.ning.com/files/CyzvNsHIwJE2ymKNid4-6T0San-HOLjygN9If6oNUjtV7vmf*Dw0dEEfO8Y2RJ9JfSrl*yYEdSy3l3E5jrG-PdYO7FqkJLsF/lighthouse4.jpg)


A small candle was being carried by a man who was climbing stairs. Along their way up to the top, the candle asked the man, “Where are we going?”
“We’re going to the top and give signals to big ships on the ocean,” the man answered.

“What? How could it be possible for me with my small light to give signals to those big ships? They will never be able to see my light”, replied the candle weakly.

“All you have to do is keep burning and leave the rest to me”, said the man.

When they arrived at the top of the lighthouse where there was a big lamp with a loop behind it. The man lit the lamp with the small candle and instantly, the place shone so brightly that the ships on the ocean could see its light.
[/color]


Moral: All you have to do is shine. Sometimes our little bit of brightness is all that is needed to spark a light bright enough to help others, so shine on.
Title: Re: Moral Stories
Post by: SS91 on March 13, 2012, 08:35:25 AM
The Lazy Farmer

(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/e/ea/Lazy_Farmer_75.jpg/220px-Lazy_Farmer_75.jpg)

The rain gods had been smiling the whole night. The roads were muddy and the potholes were filled to the brim.

It was the day for the market and Raju the farmer was riding his cart along the country road. He had to reach the market early so that he can sell his hay. It was very difficult for the horses to drag the load through the deep mud. On his journey suddenly the wheels of the horse cart sank into the mire.

The more the horses pulled, the deeper the wheel sank. Raju climbed down from his seat and stood beside his cart. He searched all around but could not find anyone around to help him.

Cursing his bad luck, he looked dejected and defeated. He didn’t make the slightest effort to get down on the wheel and lift it up by himself. Instead he started cursing his luck for what happened. Looking up at the sky, he started shouting at God, “I am so unlucky! Why has this happened to me? Oh God, come down to help me.”

After a long wait, God finally appeared before Raju. He asked Raju, “Do you think you can move the chariot by simply looking at it and whining about it? Nobody will help you unless you make some effort to help yourself. Did you try to get the wheel out of the pothole by yourself? Get up and put your shoulder to wheel and you will soon find the way out.”

Raju was ashamed of himself. He bent down and put his shoulder to the wheel and urged on the horses.

In no time the wheel was out of the mire. Raju learnt his lesson. He thanked God and carried on his journey happily.

Moral of the story : “God helps those who help themselves.
 
 
 
Title: Re: Moral Stories
Post by: SS91 on March 18, 2012, 12:15:24 PM
(http://www.moralstories.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/boysjob-640x266.jpg)

A little boy went into a drug store, reached for a soda carton and pulled it over to the telephone. He climbed onto the carton so that he could reach the buttons on the phone and proceeded to punch in seven digits (phone numbers).  The store-owner observed and listened to the conversation.

Boy: ‘Lady, Can you give me the job of cutting your lawn?

Woman: (at the other end of the phone line): ‘I already have someone to cut my lawn.’

Boy: ‘Lady, I will cut your lawn for half the price of the person who cuts your lawn now.’

Woman: I’m very satisfied with the person who is presently cutting my lawn.

Boy: (with more perseverance) : ‘Lady, I’ll even sweep your curb and your sidewalk, so on Sunday you will have the prettiest lawn in all of Palm beach , Florida.’

Woman: No, thank you.

With a smile on his face, the little boy replaced the receiver. The store-owner, who was listening to all this, walked over to the boy.

Store Owner: ‘Son… I like your attitude; I like that positive spirit and would like to offer you a job.’

Boy: ‘No thanks.’

Store Owner: But you were really pleading for one.

Boy: No Sir, I was just checking my performance at the Job I already have. I am the one who is working for that lady I was talking to!’



Moral: This is what we call ‘Self Appraisal’.  Every time if we don’t get ahead of others, we blame others for it.  We should look to our self and compare, find own weaknesses and work hard to throw away weaknesses.  Always Work Hard, Honest and with full Dedication.  It will always pay up  ;D.
Title: Re: Moral Stories -Beggar And The Guru
Post by: SS91 on April 12, 2012, 09:53:46 AM

Beggar And The Guru  
Spiritual Story  
A baker wanted to get to know a great guru in his town a little better, so he invited him to dinner. The day before, the guru went to the bakery disguised as a beggar, picked a bread roll off the display and began to eat it. The baker saw this and tossed him out into the street.

The following day, the guru and a disciple went to the baker’s house and were treated to a splendid banquet.

In the middle of the meal, the disciple asked, "How does one tell a good man from a bad man?"

"Just look at this baker. He is capable of spending ten gold pieces on a banquet because I am famous, but is incapable of giving a piece of bread to feed a hungry beggar."
Title: Re: Moral Stories
Post by: SS91 on April 23, 2012, 05:39:18 PM
The Mouse Trap.....
(http://lorilynn15.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/1459217392_084d24ffbe.jpg)


A mouse looked through the crack in the wall to see the farmer and his wife open a package.


What food might this contain? The mouse wondered - he was devastated to discover it was a mousetrap.


Retreating to the farmyard, the mouse proclaimed the warning : There is a mousetrap in the house! There is a mousetrap in the house!


The chicken clucked and scratched, raised her head and said, "Mr.Mouse, I can tell this is a grave concern to you, but it is of no consequence to me."


"I cannot be bothered by it." The mouse turned to the pig and told him, "There is a mousetrap in the house! There is a mousetrap in the house!"


The pig sympathized, but said, I am so very sorry, Mr. Mouse, but there is nothing I can do about it but pray. "Be assured you are in my prayers.


"The mouse turned to the cow and said "There is a mousetrap in the house! There is a mousetrap in the house!"


The cow said, "Wow, Mr. Mouse. I'm sorry for you, but it's no skin off my nose."


So, the mouse returned to the house, head down and dejected, to face the farmer's mousetrap alone.


That very night a sound was heard throughout the house -- like the sound of a mousetrap catching its prey.


The farmer's wife rushed to see what was caught. In the darkness, she did not see it was a venomous snake whose tail the trap had caught.


The snake bit the farmer's wife. The farmer rushed her to the hospital , and she returned home with a fever.


Everyone knows you treat a fever with fresh chicken soup, so the farmer took his hatchet to the farmyard for the soup's main ingredient.


But his wife's sickness continued, so friends and neighbors came to sit with her around the clock.


To feed them, the farmer butchered the pig.


The farmer's wife did not get well; she died.


So many people came for her funeral, the farmer had the cow slaughtered to provide enough meat for all of them. The mouse looked upon it all from his crack in the wall with great sadness.


So, the next time you hear someone is facing a problem and think it doesn't concern you, remember - when one of us is threatened, we are all at risk.


We are all involved in this journey called life. We must keep an eye out for one another and make an extra effort to encourage one another.

REMEMBER……… EACH OF US IS A VITAL THREAD IN ANOTHER PERSON'S TAPESTRY;
OUR LIVES ARE WOVEN TOGETHER FOR A REASON.
Title: Re: Moral Stories
Post by: SS91 on April 24, 2012, 04:18:37 PM


"The Wise Woman:"
A wise woman who was traveling in the mountains found a precious stone in a stream. The next day she met another traveler who was hungry, and the wise woman opened her bag to share her food. The hungry traveler saw the precious stone and asked the woman to give it to him. She did so without hesitation. The traveler left, rejoicing in his good fortune. He knew the stone was worth enough to give him security for a lifetime.

But, a few days later, he came back to return the stone to the wise woman.

"I've been thinking," he said. "I know how valuable this stone is, but I give it back in the hope that you can give me something even more precious. Give me what you have within you that enabled you to give me this stone."

Sometimes it's not the wealth you have but, what's inside you that others need.
Title: Re: Moral Stories
Post by: SS91 on April 29, 2012, 03:33:38 PM

~~Missed Blessings~~  

The man whispered, "God, speak to me."
And a meadowlark sang.

But the man did not hear.

So the man yelled "God, speak to me."
And the thunder rolled across the sky.

But the man did not listen.

The man looked around and said, "God, let me see you."
And a star shined brightly.

But the man did not notice.

And the man shouted, "God, show me a miracle."
And a life was born.

But the man did not know.

So the man cried out in despair, "Touch me God, and let me know you are here".
Whereupon God reached down and touched the man.

But the man brushed the butterfly away and walked on.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



Don't miss out on a blessing because it isn't packaged the way that you expect.
Title: Re: Moral Stories
Post by: SS91 on May 03, 2012, 10:24:16 AM


Honesty is The Best Policy.

A milkman became very wealthy through dishonest means. He had to cross a river daily to reach the city where his customers lived. He mixed the water of the river generously with the milk that he sold for a good profit. One day he went around collecting the dues in order to celebrate the wedding of his son. With the large amount thus collected he purchased plenty of rich clothes and glittering gold ornaments. But while crossing the river the boat capsized and all his costly purchases were swallowed by the river. The milk vendor was speechless with grief. At that time he heard a voice that came from the river, “Do not weep. What you have lost is only the illicit gains you earned through cheating your customers.

MORAL : Honest dealings are always supreme. Money earned by wrong methods will never remain for ever.
Title: Re: Moral Stories
Post by: SS91 on May 09, 2012, 06:07:21 PM



Generosity

Mahatma Gandhi went from city to city, village to village collecting funds for the Charkha Sangh. During one of his tours he addressed a meeting in Orissa.

After his speech a poor old woman got up. She was bent with age, her hair was grey and her clothes were in tatters. The volunteers tried to stop her, but she fought her way to the place where Gandhi Ji was sitting. “I must see him,” she insisted and going up to Gandhi Ji touched his feet.

Then from the folds of her sari she brought out a copper coin and placed it at his feet. Gandhi Ji picked up the copper coin and put it away carefully. The Charkha Sangh funds were under the charge of Jamnalal Bajaj. He asked Gandhi Ji for the coin but Gandhi Ji refused.

“I keep cheques worth thousands of rupees for the Charkha Sangh,” Jamnalal Bajaj said laughingly “yet you won’t trust me with a copper coin.” “This copper coin is worth much more than those thousands” Gandhi Ji said. “If a man has several lakhs and he gives away a thousand or two, it doesn’t mean much.”

But this coin was perhaps all that the poor woman possessed. She gave me all she had. That was very generous of her. What a great sacrifice she made. That is why I value this copper coin more than a crore of rupees.

"Overlook and forgive the weakness of generous people, because if they fall down, God gives his hand in their hands and helps them…."
Title: Re: Moral Stories
Post by: SS91 on May 15, 2012, 09:38:26 AM


Bridges Of Life

Once upon a time two brothers, who lived on adjoining farms, fell into conflict. It was the first serious rift in 40 years of farming side by side, sharing machinery, and trading labor and goods as needed without a conflict. Then the long collaboration fell apart. It began with a small misunderstanding and it grew into a major difference, and finally it exploded into an exchange of bitter words followed by weeks of silence.

One morning there was a knock on John’s door. He opened it to find a man with a carpenter’s tool box. “I’m looking for a few days’ work” he said. “Perhaps you would have a few small jobs here and there I could help with? Could I help you?” “Yes,” said the older brother. “I do have a job for you.”

“Look across the creek at that farm. That’s my neighbor; in fact, it’s my younger brother. Last week there was a meadow between us and he took his bulldozer to the river levee and now there is a creek between us. Well, he may have done this to spite me, but I’ll do him one better.”

“See that pile of lumber by the barn? I want you to build me a fence –an 8-foot fence — so I won’t need to see his place or his face anymore.” The carpenter said, “I think I understand the situation. Show me the nails and the post-hole digger and I’ll be able to do a job that pleases you.”

The older brother had to go to town, so he helped the carpenter get the materials ready and then he was off for the day. The carpenter worked hard all that day measuring, sawing, nailing. About sunset when the farmer returned, the carpenter had just finished his job.

The farmer’s eyes opened wide, his jaw dropped. There was no fence there at all. It was a bridge — a bridge stretching from one side of the creek to the other! A fine piece of work, handrails and all — and the neighbor, his younger brother, was coming toward them, his hand outstretched.

“You are quite a fellow to build this bridge after all I’ve said and done.” The two brothers stood at each end of the bridge, and then they met in the middle, taking each other’s hand.

They turned to see the carpenter hoist his toolbox onto his shoulder. “No, wait! Stay a few days. I’ve a lot of other projects for you,” said the older brother. “I’d love to stay on,” the carpenter said, but I have many more bridges to build. ;)
Title: Re: Moral Stories
Post by: SS91 on July 07, 2012, 06:05:24 PM

The Curse of Mittavinda
[Chapter 1. Jealousy]  


(http://www.buddhanet.net/e-learning/buddhism/images/volone45.gif)

Once upon a time, there was a monk who lived in a tiny monastery in a little village. He was very fortunate that the village rich man supported him in the monastery. He never had to worry about the cares of the world. His alms food was always provided automatically by the rich man.

So the monk was calm and peaceful in his mind. There was no fear of losing his comfort and his daily food. There was no desire for greater comforts and pleasures of the world. Instead, he was free to practice the correct conduct of a monk, always trying to eliminate his faults and do only wholesome deeds. But he didn't know just how lucky he was!

One day an elder monk arrived in the little village. He had followed the path of Truth until he had become perfect and faultless.

When the village rich man saw this unknown monk, he was very pleased by his gentle manner and his calm attitude. So he invited him into his home. He gave him food to eat, and he thought himself very fortunate to hear a short teaching from him. He then invited him to take shelter at the village monastery. He said, "I will visit you there this evening, to make sure all is well."

When the perfect monk arrived at the monastery, he met the village monk. They greeted each other pleasantly. Then the village monk asked, "Have you had your lunch today?" The other replied, "Yes, I was given lunch by the supporter of this monastery. He also invited me to take shelter here."

The village monk took him to a room and left him there. The perfect monk passed his time in meditation.

Later that evening, the village rich man came. He brought fruit drinks, flowers and lamp oil, in honor of the visiting holy man. He asked the village monk, "Where is our guest?" He told him what room he had given him.

The man went to the room, bowed respectfully, and greeted the perfect monk. Again he appreciated hearing the way of Truth as taught by the rare faultless one.

Afterwards, as evening approached, he lit the lamps and offered the flowers at the monastery's lovely temple shrine. He invited both monks to lunch at his home the next day. Then he left and returned home.

In the evening, a terrible thing happened. The village monk, who had been so contented, allowed the poison of jealousy to creep into his mind. He thought, "The village rich man has made it easy for me here. He provides shelter each night and fills my belly once a day.

"But I'm afraid this will change because he respects this new monk so highly. If he remains in this monastery, my supporter may stop caring for me. Therefore, I must make sure the new monk does not stay."

Thinking in this way, he lost his former mental calm. His mind became disturbed due to his jealousy - the fear of losing his comfort and his daily food. This led to the added mental pain of resentment against the perfect monk. He began plotting and scheming to get rid of him.

Late that night, as was the custom, the monks met together to end the day. The perfect monk spoke in his usual friendly way, but the village monk would not speak to him at all.

So the wise monk understood that he was jealous and resentful. He thought, "This monk does not understand my freedom from attachment to families, people and comforts. I am free of any desire to remain here. I am also free of any desire to leave here. It makes no difference. It is sad this other one cannot understand nonattachment. I pity him for the price he must pay for his ignorance."

He returned to his room, closed the door, and meditated in a high mental state throughout the night.

The next day, when it was time to go collect alms food from the supporter of the monastery, the village monk rang the temple gong. But he rang it by tapping it lightly with his finger nail. Even the birds in the temple courtyard could not hear the tiny sound.

Then he went to the visiting monk's room and knocked on the door. But again he only tapped lightly with his finger nail. Even the little mice inside the walls could not hear the silent tapping.

Having done his courteous duty in such a tricky way, he went to the rich man's home. The man bowed respectfully to the monk, took his alms bowl, and asked, "Where is the new monk, our visitor?"

The village monk replied, I have not seen him. I rang the gong. I knocked at his door, but he did not appear. Perhaps he was not used to such rich food as you gave him yesterday. Perhaps he is still asleep, busily digesting it, dreaming of his next feast! Perhaps this is the kind of monk who pleases you so much!"

Meanwhile, back at the monastery, the perfect monk awoke. He cleaned himself and put on his robe. Then he calmly departed to collect alms food wherever he happened to find it.

The rich man fed the village monk the richest of food. It was delicious and sweet, made from rice, milk, butter, sugar and honey. When the monk had eaten his fill, the man took his bowl, scrubbed it clean, and sweetened it with perfumed water. He filled it up again with the same wonderful food. He gave it back to the monk, saying, "Honourable monk, our holy visitor must be worn out from travelling. Please take my humble alms food to him." Saying nothing, he accepted the generous gift for the other.

By now the village monk's mind was trapped by its own jealous scheming. He thought, "If that other monk eats this fantastic meal, even if I grabbed him by the throat and kicked him out, he still would never leave! I must secretly get rid of this alms food. But if I give it to a stranger, it will become known and talked about. If I throw it away in a pond, the butter will float on the surface and be discovered. If I throw it away on the ground, crows will come from miles around to feast on it, and that too would be noticed. So how can I get rid of it?"

Then he saw a field that had just been burned by farmers to enrich the soil. It was covered with hot glowing coals. So he threw the rich man's generous gift on the coals. The alms food burned up without a trace. And with it went his peace of mind!

For when he got back to the monastery, he found the visitor gone. He thought, "This must have been a perfectly wise monk. He must have known I was jealous - afraid of losing my favoured position. He must have known I resented him and tried to trick him into leaving. I wasted alms food meant for him. And all for the sake of keeping my own belly full! I'm afraid something terrible will happen to me! What have I done?" So, afraid of losing his easy daily food, he had thrown away his peace of mind.

For the rest of his life the rich man continued to support him. But his mind was filled with torment and suffering. He felt doomed like a walking starving zombie, or a living hungry ghost.

When he died, his torment continued. For he was reborn in a hell world, where he suffered for hundreds of thousands of years.

Finally, there too he died, as all beings must. But the results of his past actions were only partly completed. So he was reborn as a demon, 500 times! In those 500 lives, there was only one day when he got enough to eat, and that was a meal of afterbirth dropped by a deer in the forest!

Then he was reborn as a starving stray dog another 500 times! For the sake of a full monk's belly in a past life, all these 500 lives were also filled with hunger, and quarrelling over food. Only a single time did he get enough to eat, and that was a meal of vomit he found in a gutter!

Finally most of the results of his actions were finished. Only then was he so very fortunate enough to be reborn as a human being. He was born into the poorest of the poor beggar families of the city of Kasi, in northern India. He was given the name, Mittavinda.

From the moment of his birth, this poor family became even more poor and miserable. After a few years, the pain of hunger became so great, that his parents beat him and chased Mittavinda away for good. They shouted, "Be gone forever! You are nothing but a curse!"

Poor Mittavinda! So very long ago he had not known how lucky he was. He was contented as a humble village monk. But he allowed the poison of jealousy to enter his mind - the fear of losing his easy daily food. This led to the self-torture of resentment against a perfect monk, and to trickery in denying him one wholesome gift of alms food. And it took a thousand and one lives for the loss of his comfort and daily food to be completed. What he had feared, his own actions had brought to pass!
Title: Re: Moral Stories
Post by: SS91 on August 12, 2012, 11:18:27 AM


The Curse of Mittavinda
[Chapter 2. Greed]  
Little did poor Mittavinda know that his lives of constant hunger were about to come to an end. After wandering about, he eventually ended up in Benares.

At that time the Enlightenment Being was living the life of a world famous teacher in Benares. He had 500 students. As an act of charity, the people of the city supported these poor students with food. They also paid the teacher's fees for teaching them.

Mittavinda was permitted to join them. He began studying under the great teacher. And at last, he began eating regularly.

But he paid no attention to the teachings of the wise master. He was disobedient and violent. During 500 lives as a hungry dog, quarrelling had become a habit. So he constantly got into fist fights with the other students.

It became so bad that many of the students quit. The income of the world famous teacher dwindled down to almost nothing. Because of all his fighting, Mittavinda was finally forced to run away from Benares.

He found his way to a small remote village. He lived there as a hard working labourer, married a very poor woman, and had two children.

It became known that he had studied under the world famous teacher of Benares. So the poor villagers selected him to give advice when questions arose. They provided a place for him to live near the entrance to the village. And they began following his advice.

But things did not go well. The village was fined seven times by the king. Seven times their houses were burned. And seven times the town pond dried up.

They realized that all their troubles began when they started taking Mittavinda's advice. So they chased him and his family out of the village. They shouted, "Be gone forever! You are nothing but a curse!"

While they were fleeing, they went through a haunted forest. Demons came out of the shadows and killed and ate his wife and children. But Mittavinda escaped.

He made his way to a seaport city. He was lonely, miserable and penniless. It just so happened that there was a kind generous rich merchant living in the city. He heard the story of Mittavinda's misfortunes. Since they had no children of their own, he and his wife adopted Mittavinda. For better or worse they treated him exactly as their own son.

His new mother and father were very religious. They always tried to do wholesome things. But Mittavinda still had not learned his lesson. He did not accept any religion, so he often did unwholesome things.

Some time after his father's death, his mother decided to try and help him enter the religious life. She said, "There is this world and there is the one to come. If you do bad things, you will suffer painful results in both worlds."

But foolish Mittavinda replied, "I will do whatever I enjoy doing and become happier and happier. There is no point considering whether what I do is wholesome or unwholesome. I don't care about such things!"

On the next full moon holy day, Mittavinda's mother advised him to go to the temple and listen all night long to the wise words of the monks. He said, "I wouldn't waste my time!" So she said, "When you return I will give you a thousand gold coins."

Mittavinda thought that with enough money he could enjoy himself constantly and be happy all the time. So he went to the temple. But he sat in a corner, paid no attention, and fell asleep for the night. Early the next morning he went home to collect his reward.

Meanwhile his mother thought he would appreciate wise teachings. Then he would bring the oldest monk home with him. So she prepared delicious food for the expected guest. When she saw him returning alone, she said, "Oh my son, why didn't you ask the senior monk to come home with you for breakfast?"

He said, "I did not go to the temple to listen to a monk or to bring him home with me. I went only to get your thousand gold coins!" His disappointed mother said, "Never mind the money. Since there is so much delicious food prepared - only eat and sleep!" He replied, "Until you give me the money, I refuse to eat!" So she gave him the thousand gold coins. Only then did he gobble up the food until all he could do was fall asleep.

Mittavinda did not think a thousand gold coins were enough for him to constantly enjoy himself. So he used the money to start a business, and before long he became very rich. One day he came home and said, "Mother, I now have 120,000 gold coins. But I am not yet satisfied. Therefore I will go abroad on the next ship and make even more money!"

She replied, "Oh my son, why do you want to go abroad? The ocean is dangerous and it is very risky doing business in a strange land. I have 80,000 gold coins right here in the house. That is enough for you. Please don't go, my only son!"

Then she held him to keep him from leaving. But Mittavinda was crazy with greed. So he pushed his mother's hand away and slapped her face. She fell to the floor. She was so hurt and shocked that she yelled at him, "Be gone forever! You are nothing but a curse!"

Without looking back, Mittavinda rushed to the harbour and set sail on the first departing ship.

Title: Re: Moral Stories
Post by: SS91 on August 14, 2012, 11:55:15 AM

The Curse of Mittavinda
Chapter 3. Pleasure

After seven days on the Indian Ocean, all the winds and currents stopped completely. The ship was stuck! After being dead in the water for seven days, all on board were terrified they would die.

So they drew straws to find out who was the cause of their bad luck and frightening misfortune. Seven times the short straw was drawn by Mittavinda!

They forced. him onto a tiny bamboo raft, and set him adrift on the open seas. They shouted, "Be gone forever! You are nothing but a curse!" And suddenly a strong wind sent the ship on its way.



But once again Mittavinda's life was spared. This was a result of his wholesome actions as a monk, so many births ago. No matter how long it takes, actions cause results.

Sometimes an action causes more than one result, some pleasant and some unpleasant. It is said there are Asuras who live through such mixed results in an unusual way.

Asuras are unfortunate ugly gods. Some of them are lucky enough to change their form into beautiful young dancing girl goddesses. These are called Apsaras.

They enjoy the greatest pleasures for seven days. But then they must go to a hell world and suffer torments as hungry ghosts for seven days. Again they become Apsara goddesses - back and forth, back and forth - until both kinds of results are finished.

While floating on the tiny bamboo raft, it just so happened that Mittavinda came to a lovely Glass Palace. There he met four very pretty Apsaras. They enjoyed their time together, filled with heavenly pleasures, for seven days.

Then. when it was time for the goddesses to become hungry ghosts, they said to Mittavinda, "Wait for us just seven short days, and we will return and continue our pleasure."

The Glass Palace and the four Apsaras disappeared. But still Mittavinda had not regained the peace of mind thrown away by the village monk, so very long ago. Seven days of pleasure had not satisfied him. He could not wait for the lovely goddesses to return. He wanted more and more. So he continued on. in the little bamboo raft.

Lo and behold, he came to a shining Silver Palace, with eight Apsara goddesses living there. Again he enjoyed seven days of the greatest pleasure. These Apsaras also asked him to wait the next seven days, and disappeared into a hell world.

Amazing as it may seem, the greedy Mittavinda went on to seven days of pleasure in a sparkling Jewel Palace with 16 Apsaras. But they too disappeared. Then he spent seven days in a glowing Golden Palace with 32 of the most beautiful Apsaras of all.

But still he was not satisfied! When all 32 asked him to wait seven days, again he departed on the raft.

Before long he came to the entrance of a hell world filled with suffering tortured beings. They were living through the results of their own actions. But his desire for more pleasure was so strong that Mittavinda thought he saw a beautiful city surrounded by a wall with four fabulous gates. He thought, "I will go inside and make myself king!"

After he entered, he saw one of the victims of this hell world. He had a collar around his neck that spun like a wheel, with five sharp blades cutting into his face, head, chest and back. But Mittavinda was still so greedy for pleasure that he could not see the pain right before his eyes. Instead he saw the spinning collar of cutting blades as if it were a lovely lotus blossom. He saw the dripping blood as if it were the red powder of perfumed sandal wood. And the screams of pain from the poor victim sounded like the sweetest of songs!

He said to the poor man, "You've had that lovely lotus crown long enough! Give it to me, for I deserve to wear it now." The condemned man warned him, "This is a cutting collar, a wheel of blades." But Mittavinda said, "You only say that because you don't want to give it up."

The victim thought, "At last the results of my past unwholesome deeds must be completed. Like me, this poor fool must be here for striking his mother. I will give him the wheel of pain." So he said, "Since you want it so badly, take the lotus crown!"

With these words the wheel of blades spun off the former victim's neck and began spinning around the head of Mittavinda. And suddenly all his illusions disappeared - he knew this was no beautiful city, but a terrible hell world; he knew this was no lotus crown, but a cutting wheel of blades; and he knew he was not king, but prisoner. Groaning in pain he cried out desperately, "Take back your wheel! Take back your wheel!" But the other one had disappeared.

Just then the king of the gods arrived for a teaching visit to the hell world. Mittavinda asked him. "Oh king of gods, what have I done to deserve this torment?" The god replied, "Refusing to listen to the words of monks, you obtained no wisdom, but only money. A thousand gold coins did not satisfy you, nor even 120,000. Blinded by greed, you struck your mother on your way to grabbing greater wealth still.

"Then the pleasure of four Apsaras in their Glass Palace did not satisfy you. Neither eight Apsaras in a Silver Palace, nor 16 in a Jewel Palace. Not even the pleasure of 32 lovely goddesses in a Golden Palace was enough for you! Blinded by greed for pleasure you wished to be king. Now, at last, you see your crown is only a wheel of torture, and your kingdom is a hell world.

"Learn this, Mittavinda - all who follow their greed wherever it leads are left unsatisfied. For it is in the nature of greed to be dissatisfied with what one has, whether a little or a lot. The more obtained, the more desired - until the circle of greed becomes the circle of pain."

Having said this, the god returned to his heaven world home. At the same time the wheel crashed down on Mittavinda. With his head spinning in pain, he found himself adrift on the tiny bamboo raft.

Soon he came to an island inhabited by a powerful she-devil. She happened to be disguised as a goat. Being hungry, Mittavinda thought nothing of grabbing the goat by a hind leg. And the she-devil hiding inside kicked him way up into the air. He finally landed in a thorn bush on the outskirts of Benares!

After he untangled himself from the thorns, he saw some goats grazing nearby. He wanted very badly to return to the palaces and the dancing girl Apsaras. Remembering that a goat had kicked him here, he grabbed the leg of one of these goats. He hoped it would kick him back to the island.

Instead, this goat only cried out. The shepherds came, and captured Mittavinda for trying to steal one of the king's goats.

As he was being taken as a prisoner to the king, they passed by the world famous teacher of Benares. Immediately he recognized his student. He asked the shepherds, "Where are you taking this man?"

They said, "He is a goat thief! We are taking him to the king for punishment!" The teacher said, "Please don't do so. He is one of my students. Release him to me, so he can be a servant in my school." They agreed and left him there.

The teacher asked Mittavinda, "What has happened to you since you left me?"

He told the story of being first respected. and then cursed, by the people of the remote village. He told of getting married and having two children, only to see them killed and eaten by demons in the haunted forest. He told of slapping his generous mother when he was crazy with the greed for money. He told of being cursed by his shipmates and being cast adrift on a bamboo raft. He told of the four palaces with their beautiful goddesses, and how each time his pleasure ended he was left unsatisfied. He told of the cutting wheel of torture, the reward for the greedy in hell. And he told of his hunger for goat meat. that only got him kicked back to Benares without even a bite to eat!

The world famous teacher said, "It is clear that your past actions have caused both unpleasant and pleasant results, and that both are eventually completed. But you cannot understand that pleasures always come to an end. Instead, you let them feed your greed for more and more. You are left exhausted and unsatisfied. madly grasping at goat legs! Calm down, my friend. And know that trying to hold water in a tight fist, will always leave you thirsty!"

Hearing this, Mittavinda bowed respectfully to the great teacher. He begged to be allowed to follow him as a student. The Enlightenment Being welcomed him with open arms.

The moral is: In peace of mind, there is neither loss nor gain.



Title: Re: Moral Stories
Post by: SS91 on August 31, 2012, 05:39:06 PM
The Ship of Friendship

(http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-H-t9GHtxzdQ/UAe-9si5-UI/AAAAAAAAAEA/PGq89esIizk/s1600/The%2BShip%2Bof%2BFriendship.jpg)
A voyaging ship was wrecked during a storm at sea and only two of the men on it were able to swim to a small, desert like island.

The two survivors who have been a good friends, not knowing what else to do, agreed that they had no other recourse but to pray to God. However, to find out whose prayer was more powerful, they agreed to divide the territory between them and stay on opposite sides of the island.

The first thing they prayed for was food. The next morning, the first man saw a fruit-bearing tree on his side of the land, and he was able to eat its fruit. The other man’s parcel of land remained barren.

After a week, the first man was lonely and he decided to pray for a wife. The next day, another ship was wrecked, and the only survivor was a woman who swam to his side of the land. On the other side of the island, there was nothing.

Soon the first man prayed for a house, clothes, more food. The next day, like magic, all of these were given to him. However, the second man still had nothing.

Finally, the first man prayed for a ship, so that he and his wife could leave the island. In the morning, he found a ship docked at his side of the island. The first man boarded the ship with his wife and decided to leave the second man on the island.

He considered the other man unworthy to receive God’s blessings, since none of his prayers had been answered.

As the ship was about to leave, the first man heard a voice from heaven booming, “Why are you leaving your companion on the island?”

“My blessings are mine alone, since I was the one who prayed for them,” the first man answered. “His prayers were all unanswered and so he does not deserve anything.”

“You are mistaken!” the voice rebuked him. “He had only one prayer, which I answered. If not for that, you would not have received any of my blessings.”

“Tell me,” the first man asked the voice, “What did he pray for that I should owe him anything?”

“He prayed that all your prayers be answered “


Moral: For all we know, our blessings are not the fruits of our prayers alone, but those of another praying for us (Congregational Prayer). Value your friends, don’t leave your loved ones behind.
Title: Re: Moral Stories
Post by: SS91 on September 22, 2012, 12:54:04 PM


Two Wolves Within Us  

Posted By KiranKumar Roy

An old Grandfather said to his grandson, who came to him with anger at a friend who had done him an injustice, "Let me tell you a story."
 
"I too, at times, have felt great hate for those who have taken so much, with no sorrow for what they do. But hate wears you down, and does not hurt your enemy. It's like taking poison and wishing your enemy would die. I have struggled with these feelings many times."
 
"It is as if there are two wolves inside me; one is good and does no harm. He lives in harmony with all around him and does not take offense when no offense was intended. He will only fight when it is right to do so, and in the right way."
 
"But the other wolf... Ah! The tiniest thing will send him into a fit of temper. He fights everyone, all the time, for no reason. He cannot think because his anger and hate are so great. It is helpless anger, for his anger will change nothing."
 
"Sometimes it is hard to live with these two wolves inside me, for both of them try to dominate my spirit."
 
The boy looked intently into his Grandfather's eyes and asked, "Which one wins, Grandfather?"
 
The Grandfather smiled and quietly said, "The one I feed."

Title: Re: Moral Stories
Post by: SS91 on October 12, 2012, 10:50:52 AM

(http://www.moralstories.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/poorman-640x266.jpg)

The Poor Man’s Wealth

Ramchand and Premchand were neighbours. Ramchand was a poor farmer. Premchand was a landlord.

Ramchand used to be very relaxed and happy. He never bothered to close the doors and windows of his house at night. He had deep sound sleeps. Although he had no money he was peaceful.

Premchand used to be very tense always. He was very keen to close the doors and windows of his house at night. He could not sleep well. He was always bothered that someone might break open his safes and steal away his money. He envied the peaceful Ramchand.

One day, Premchand call Ramchand and gave him a boxful of cash saying, “Look my dear friend. I am blessed with plenty of wealth. I find you in poverty. So, take this cash and live in prosperity.”

Ramchand was overwhelmingly happy. He was joyful throughout the day. Night came. Ramchand went to bed as usual. But, to-day, he could not sleep. He went and closed the doors and windows. He still could not sleep. He began to keep on looking at the box of cash. The whole night he was disturbed.

As soon as day broke, Ramchand took the box of cash to Premchand. He gave away the box to Premchand saying, “Dear Friend, I am poor. But, your money took away peace from me. Please bear with me and take back your money.”

Moral: Money can not get everything. Learn to be satisfied with what you have and you will always be happy.

Submitted By: John, USA

Title: Re: Moral Stories
Post by: SS91 on October 27, 2012, 02:51:32 PM

Five More Minutes
(http://www.moralstories.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/fatherson.jpg)

While at the park one day, a woman sat down next to a man on a bench near a playground.  “That’s my son over there,” she said, pointing to a little boy in a red sweater who was gliding down the slide.  “He’s a fine looking boy” the man said. “That’s my daughter on the bike in the white dress.”

Then, looking at his watch, he called to his daughter. “What do you say we go, Melissa?”  Melissa pleaded, “Just five more minutes, Dad. Please? Just five more minutes.”  The man nodded and Melissa continued to ride her bike to her heart’s content. Minutes passed and the father stood and called again to his daughter. “Time to go now?”

Again Melissa pleaded, “Five more minutes, Dad. Just five more minutes.”  The man smiled and said, “OK.”  “My, you certainly are a patient father,” the woman responded.

The man smiled and then said, “Her older brother Tommy was killed by a drunk driver last year while he was riding his bike near here. I never spent much time with Tommy and now I’d give anything for just five more minutes with him. I’ve vowed not to make the same mistake with Melissa.  She thinks she has five more minutes to ride her bike. The truth is, I get Five more minutes to watch her play.”


Moral: Life is all about making priorities, and family is one and only priority on top of all other, so spend all time you can with loved ones
Title: Re: Moral Stories
Post by: SS91 on January 24, 2013, 11:52:04 AM

Faith is the First Step

The man who is full of faith, who is devoted to it, and who has subdued the senses obtains this knowledge; and, having obtained this knowledge, he goes at once to the supreme peace.



Shraddha is faith. Faith is the greatest thing in the world. Even the highest rationality has faith as its background. One cannot ratiocinate on things in which one has no faith. Even the greatest philosopher has faith as his stronghold. No intellectualism can prove good if it is not supported by faith. The whole world stands on faith and is guided by it. Religion has faith as its root. One cannot prove God if one has no faith in God. God is only a matter of faith. This faith is the outcome of previous spiritual impressions. Certain men are born philosophers and certain others do not grasp the fundamentals of religion even at the age of seventy. This is all due to the past spiritual impressions. Faith is guided by the impressions of actions done in the previous births and the present faith is nearer or farther away from the Truth in accordance with the advance made in spiritual evolution.

Blind faith should be turned into rational faith. Faith without understanding is only blind faith. Devotion is the development of faith. Knowledge is the development of devotion. Faith leads to the final spiritual experience. Whatever a person strongly believes in, that he experiences and that he becomes. The whole world is a product of faithful imagination. If you have no faith in the world, the world does not exist. If you have no faith in sensual objects, they will not give you pleasure. If you have no faith in God, you will never reach perfection. Wrong faith turns even existence into non-existence.

“One who thinks that Brahman does not exist, himself becomes non-existent”, states the Taittiriya Upanishad. Faith is the fundamental necessity for spiritual Sadhana.

Faith in God is the first step to God-realisation. Not an iota of progress is ever possible on the path of spirituality without faith. The faith must be a living faith. It must be unwavering faith. Lack of faith is a stumbling block on the path of realisation.

Faith is an important qualification for an aspirant on the path of spirituality. Students of all Yogas, whether of Karma Yoga, Raja Yoga or Jnana Yoga, should possess this fundamental virtue. No faith, no devotion. No faith, no Jnana. The Sanskrit equivalent of faith is “Shraddha” or “Visvas”. The student should have faith in the existence of God, in the teachings of his Guru, in the Vedas and in his own self. The whole world runs on faith only. The Raja has faith in his Dewan. The husband has faith in his wife. The shopkeeper has faith in his customers. The patient has faith in his doctor. The client has faith in his lawyer. The engineer has faith in his head clerk.

Man lives by faith. When faith is directed to God, it becomes the cause of the liberation of the individual.


jAIsAIrAM
Title: Re: Moral Stories
Post by: SS91 on January 26, 2013, 11:50:34 AM


A Disciple’s Test

 

       
Ramanujacharya was the disciple of Shathakopa Swami. Swami had revealed the secret of God-realisation to Ramanuj and had warned him not to tell anybody about this; but Ramanuj did not obey this order.  He started giving away all the knowledge given by his Guru -  the path for God-realisation - to the people.  Swami got very angry when he came to know about this. He called for Ramanuj and told him, “You are revealing the secret of spiritual practice by disobeying me. This is Adharma (unrighteousness). This is a sin.  Do you know what will be the effect of this?”
 
Ramanuj said politely, “Gurudev, by disobeying Guru the disciple will have to go to Hell.”  Shathakopa Swami asked, “In spite of knowing this, why did you do this on purpose?”
 
On this, Ramanuj replied, “A tree gives everything it has got to the people. Is it ever selfish? Whatever I did, I did it with the intention of betterment of the people, people should also get the bliss of God-realisation and for this, even if I have to go to Hell, I will not regret a bit.”
 
The Swami was pleased  seeing the intense yearning of Ramanuj of spreading the knowledge of spiritual practice for God-realisation to the people. He blessed Ramanuj and sent him with great love to spread the real knowledge of spiritual practice among people.
 
Children, Ramanuj tried to spread the knowledge he had received from his Guru to others. Swami was pleased with this selfless attitude of His disciple.  Similarly, we too should spread the knowledge we have to others.
 
 
Title: Re: Moral Stories
Post by: SS91 on January 27, 2013, 11:52:56 AM

OM SAI RAM  

Disciple Aruni - Devotion towards the Guru
 

 

         This is a story from the Mahaabhaarata. Aruni of Panchala (a place in ancient India) was a dedicated disciple of Sage Dhoumya. Aruni lived in his Guru's aashram and participated in the satsevaa (service into God) of the aashram's daily chores in order to receive the divine knowledge he sought.
 
         One cold winter day, Aruni was carrying back the firewood he had collected for the aashram. As he was passing by a field which belonged to his Guru, he noticed a breach in the embankment that was holding water in the field. He realised that the water would seep away due to the breach and the crops in the field would die without the water.
 
         Aruni thought, "What should I do? If I stop to rebuild the embankment, I will be delayed and there is no firewood at the aashram to keep the place warm. I'd better rush to the hermitage with the firewood and then come back to take care of the breach."
 
         Meanwhile, the Sage and His disciples had assembled for the day's lessons. Aruni was missing. Soon Aruni rushed in, dropped the firewood in the courtyard, informed the teacher about the break in the embankment and quickly rushed back out.
 
         Sage Dhoumya was pleased with the responsible disciple.
 
         Aruni ran all the way back to that field and tried to stop the leakage of water by blocking it with some logs and mud. However, this did not stop the leak. The heavy pressure of the water washed away the temporary dam Aruni had constructed. He felt helpless. It seemed impossible for him to stop the leakage without help, but time was running out! He thought for a while and then had an idea about how to stop the water from leaking out.
 
         As evening fell and it became dark, everyone at the ashram started worrying about Aruni. The Sage gathered the other disciples and they all set out to look for Aruni. When they reached the field and the Sage called out Aruni's name, they heard a faint voice, "Here I am, Master!"
 
         Everyone rushed towards the sound. They saw Aruni lying in the breach to prevent the water from leaking out. When nothing else had worked, he had used his own body to stop the flow. The disciples quickly pulled Aruni out of the freezing water. They assured him, "Don't worry Aruni! We will fix the breach."
 
         "My son you are more precious than the crop," said the Guru.
 
         Aruni was covered in a blanket and brought back to the aashram. Sage Dhoumya himself tended to Aruni. The Sage then blessed His disciple, "You shall be renowned forever, for your unmatched devotion and obedience to your Guru."


Moral: The kind of obedience that Aruni had was crucial in his quest to win the Guru's grace. We too can see what efforts we can make to develop this quality so that God and Guru will bless us. An example of this quality is, listening to our parents and teachers.

JaiSaiRam
Title: Re: Moral Stories
Post by: SS91 on February 01, 2013, 03:04:36 PM


Caretaker of all creation

         
Samartha Ramdas Swamî was a great Saint from Maharashtra, India. He was the Guru of Shivajî Maharaj, a great and pious king of 17th century Maharashtra. One day, as the king and His Guru were inspecting some construction in the royal palace, the king thought, "Indeed I am a great king, how well I take care of all my subjects!" The Guru, in His Omniscience, read His disciple's thoughts and decided to correct his thinking immediately.

         There was a huge boulder nearby. Ramdas Swamî asked some of Shivajî's soldiers to break it into two. When His request was carried out, everyone present witnessed an incredible sight. They saw that the rock had a small water-filled cavity with a little frog in it! As soon as the boulder was split into two, the encaged frog jumped out, breaking free.

         Samartha Ramdas Swamî now turned to Shivajî and asked, "If you feel that you are taking care of everybody in this kingdom, pray tell me who was taking care of the frog trapped in the rock?" The king realized his mistake and felt remorse for his egotistical thinking. He realised that it was God Who had created everything and took care of all His creation.

Moral : One should do everything, including spiritual practice, with humility. Spiritual practice done with an attitude of surrender would eventually give the experience of the truth that God alone is Almighty and the Creator of all.

JAISAIRAM
Title: Re: Moral Stories
Post by: SS91 on February 02, 2013, 01:20:30 PM


Change yourself rather than changing the world !

 
(http://balsanskar.com/english/lekh/out/images/1314858310_raja125.jpg)

         Once, a thorn pricked a princess’s sole. So, the king told his Minister to cover the land completely with leather to avoid the recurrence of such incident. Naturally, the minister did not know how to arrange for so much leather to cover the entire land. However, an idea struck his mind. He offered a pair of beautiful leather sandals to the princess.
 
Moral : There are thorns in the world; but they do not prick those who wear shoes. So change yourself rather than trying to change the world.
Title: Re: Moral Stories
Post by: SS91 on February 10, 2013, 01:41:03 PM


Gurupadesh
         Once, there was a disciple who used to go his Guru (spiritual Master) everyday and say, “Master, please give me Gurupadesh (Spiritual wisdom).”  However, the Guru used to tell him, “Come tomorrow."  When he went back the next day, the Guru again used to say to him, “Come tomorrow.” This went on for ten days and then finally, the disciple said to his Guru, “O Guruji, please give me spiritual wisdom now!” That time, the Guru said to him, “Come alone, why do you bring so many people with you?” The disciple was surprised to hear this because he always used to go to his Guru all alone. The same thing happened on second and third day. Finally, the disciple gathered courage and asked his Guru, “Guruji, why do you always tell me that I bring many people with me, although I always come alone?” The Guru replied, “My dear, do you know how many thoughts there are in your mind? There are thoughts of lust, anger, greed, fascination, haughtiness, jealousy, hypocrisy” Samarth has said that worldly life itself is the sixth enemy, but we have tightly embraced the domestic life. Then the disciple realised that he should wipe out all these thoughts from his mind, only then will his Guru give him spiritual wisdom !
         The moral here is that our mind should become pure. Only then will we understand the meaning of pious conduct and good behaviour. When our deeds will be pious, the fruit of Moksha (Final liberation) is inevitable !
Title: Re: Moral Stories
Post by: SS91 on February 14, 2013, 01:17:31 PM


Caretaker of all creation



         Samartha Ramdas Swamî was a great Saint from Maharashtra, India. He was the Guru of Shivajî Maharaj, a great and pious king of 17th century Maharashtra. One day, as the king and His Guru were inspecting some construction in the royal palace, the king thought, "Indeed I am a great king, how well I take care of all my subjects!" The Guru, in His Omniscience, read His disciple's thoughts and decided to correct his thinking immediately.

         There was a huge boulder nearby. Ramdas Swamî asked some of Shivajî's soldiers to break it into two. When His request was carried out, everyone present witnessed an incredible sight. They saw that the rock had a small water-filled cavity with a little frog in it! As soon as the boulder was split into two, the encaged frog jumped out, breaking free.

         Samartha Ramdas Swamî now turned to Shivajî and asked, "If you feel that you are taking care of everybody in this kingdom, pray tell me who was taking care of the frog trapped in the rock?" The king realized his mistake and felt remorse for his egotistical thinking. He realised that it was God Who had created everything and took care of all His creation.


Moral : One should do everything, including spiritual practice, with humility. Spiritual practice done with an attitude of surrender would eventually give the experience of the truth that God alone is Almighty and the Creator of all.

Title: Re: Moral Stories
Post by: PiyaSoni on August 22, 2013, 05:18:08 AM

"An old man saw a scorpion drowning and decided to pull it out from the water. He calmly extended his hand to reach the creature. When he did, the scorpion stung him. With the effect of the pain, the old man let go the creature and it fell back into the water. The man realizing that the scorpion was drowning again, got back and tried to rescue it but then again it stung him. He let go of it again....

A young boy standing by, approached the old man and said, "Excuse me Sir, you are going to hurt yourself trying to save the evil-vicious creature, why do you insist? Don't you realize that each time you try to help the scorpion, it stings you?"

The man replied, "The nature of the scorpion is to sting and mine is to help. My nature will not change in helping the scorpion."

So the man thought for a while and used a leaf from a nearby tree and pulled the scorpion out from the water and saved it's life.

MORAL LESSON:
Do not change your nature. If someone hurts you, just take precautions. Some pursue happiness while others create it. Let your conscience be your guide in whatever you do."