Tuesday, January 2, 2007

HOW TO STOP THINKING AND START SEEKING ADVICES

A weaver in search of some choice wood applied the axe to the trunk of a tree and was stunned to hear a voice from the tree talk with him. And that voice belonged to a demon among demons, the 'brahmin—demon'.

"Stop, for this is my assigned abode. And if you obey, I will grant you a gift, any gift", said the 'brahmin-demon'. "Mighty Sir, I will definitely obey your orders. But regardinq the gift you promised, please give me some time for consultation with my •folks before makinq a due choice", replied the weaver. The brahmin-demon readily gave the desired permission.

The weaver went first to his friend, a barber. "Ask him for a kingdom and you can be a king, while I will be your minister", suggested the friend. "That is ' good advice indeed - but all the same, let me also consult my wife", replied the weaver.

"A house where a boy, a woman or a gambler is the advisor collapses by itself", cautioned the barber.

The weaver went thereupon to his home and conveyed in detail the entire development, including the brahmin-demon's promise and the friend's advice.

"Seek not the advices of sycophants, boys and barbers. What would a kingdom bring to us - except troubles for which we are untrained to cope up with ? Once we get a kingdom, even our own relations can lead us into dangerous situations, due to their own greed. Let us be satisfied with our own profession, the hereditary creed of our caste.

It is enough if we first double our income. And the solution too, is easy. You earn your living by using one head and two hands. You better hurry up to the 'brahmin-demon' before he changes his mind, to help in the 'strategy for double-income', by asking for one more head and two more hands", counselled the weaver's wife emphatically.

There-upon, the weaver went back to the tree and procured from the demon-brahmin the necessary implements for 'the strategy for double income' - the gift of one more head and two more hands.

And on his way back, a crowd gathered around the weaver with two heads and four hands. And frightened by the 'monster', they duly stoned him to dea

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