Are we trading our life for pennies?

Long ago a merchant was traveling to another kingdom with a group of merchants carrying goods in bullock carts.  He had loaded a gunny bag of coins on a mule which he needed for his expenses on this journey. While going through the jungle, the gunny bag broke open and the coins started to drop from the bag. By the time the merchant realized, a good number of coins had spilled out of his bag. 

He stopped his bullock carts and started collecting the coins fallen on the ground. One of the guards who was accompanying the merchants said –

“Why are you putting your goods worth crores for these pennies? This jungle is terrorized by a gang of thieves. We better start moving from here without delaying further”

The merchant ignored the advice of the guard and said – 

“Future earning and profits are unknown, it is not wise to leave what you have in hand currently”

He continued collecting his coins. The other merchants along with the guards left behind this merchant and his bullock carts and continued on their journey. The merchant was busy collecting the coins while others left and crossed the jungle.

The thieves saw the lone merchant without guards, they attacked him and took away all his money and goods.

Enlightened Monk

Wisdom Bite

Like the merchant, we too are chasing and collecting worthless goods in this world without realizing the true purpose of our life. We spend our entire life for material gains ultimately leaving behind everything and going empty-handed. 

Our efforts should be to seek enlightenment, the ultimate truth. Going from consciousness to superconsciousness. But we are so engrossed in the world outside that we never pay attention to what’s priceless inside us. That’s the biggest irony of our lives. 

2 Comments

  1. Anonymous
    December 17, 2020

    excellent story!

    Reply
    1. mitesh lodaya
      December 17, 2020

      Thank you🙏

      Reply

Leave a Comment

Scroll to top