Hari
OM
Story-day is for cultural exploration, puraanas and
parables and finding out about leading lights in spiritual philosophy.
It
has been a while since we had a fable….
The Ass and His Masters
AN ASS, belonging to an herb-seller who gave him too little food and
too much work made a petition to Jupiter to be released from his present
service and provided with another master.
Jupiter, after warning him that he would repent his request, caused him
to be sold to a tile-maker.
Shortly afterwards, finding that he had heavier loads to carry and
harder work in the brick-field, he petitioned for another change of
master. Jupiter, telling him that it
would be the last time that he could grant his request, ordained that he be
sold to a tanner. The Ass found that he
had fallen into worse hands and, noting his master's occupation, said
wretchedly "It would have been
better for me to have been either starved by the one, or to have been
overworked by the other of my former masters, than to have been bought by my
present owner, who will even after I am dead tan my hide and make me useful to him!"
He who finds discontentment in one
place is not likely to find happiness in another.
We see this sentiment reflected in the Vedic writings also, when it
is made clear that running away to forest or cave is no salve to the
difficulties of life. It is necessary to
deal with the restlessness within. In doing so, our environment can be found to
be conducive, regardless of its location.
