One day, Buddha, was in deep thought about the worldly activities and the ways of instilling goodness in human beings. The following is the text of a conversation between him and his disciple.
One of his disciples approached him and said humbly, "Oh my teacher! While you are so much concerned about the world and others, why don't you also look into the welfare and needs of your own disciples?"
Buddha: "OK. Tell me how I can help you?"
Disciple: "Master! My attire is worn out and it is beyond decency to wear it. Can I get a new one, please?"
Buddha found that the robe indeed was in a bad condition and needed replacement. He asked the store keeper to give the disciple a new robe to wear. The disciple thanked Buddha and retired to his room.
Though he met his disciple's requirement, Buddha was not all that contended with on his decision. He started thinking whether he had missed out some point. A while later, he realized, what he should have asked the disciple. He went to his disciple's place and asked him, "Is your new attire comfortable? Do you need anything more?"
Disciple: "Thank you my Master. The attire is indeed very comfortable. I need nothing more."
Buddha: "Having got the new one, what did you do with your old attire?"
Disciple: "I am using it as my bed spread."
Buddha: "Then I hope you have disposed off your old bed spread."
Disciple: "No.. no.. Master. I am using my old bedspread as my window curtain."
Buddha: "What about your old Curtain?"
Disciple: "It is being used to handle hot utensils in the kitchen."
Buddha: "Oh.. I see.. Can you tell me what did they do with the old cloth they used in kitchen?"
Disciple: "They are being used to swab the floor."
Buddha: "Then, the old rug being used to swab the floor...???"
Disciple: "Master, since they were torn so much, we could not find any better use, but to use as wicks in oil lamps. One such wick is right now lit in your study room...."
Buddha smiled in contentment and left for his room.
If not to this degree of utilization, can we at least attempt to find the best use of all our resources - at home and at office .. ?
Treat the earth well.....it was not given to you by your parents; it was loaned to you by your children. We did not inherit the earth from our ancestors; we have borrowed it from our children.
One of his disciples approached him and said humbly, "Oh my teacher! While you are so much concerned about the world and others, why don't you also look into the welfare and needs of your own disciples?"
Buddha: "OK. Tell me how I can help you?"
Disciple: "Master! My attire is worn out and it is beyond decency to wear it. Can I get a new one, please?"
Buddha found that the robe indeed was in a bad condition and needed replacement. He asked the store keeper to give the disciple a new robe to wear. The disciple thanked Buddha and retired to his room.
Though he met his disciple's requirement, Buddha was not all that contended with on his decision. He started thinking whether he had missed out some point. A while later, he realized, what he should have asked the disciple. He went to his disciple's place and asked him, "Is your new attire comfortable? Do you need anything more?"
Disciple: "Thank you my Master. The attire is indeed very comfortable. I need nothing more."
Buddha: "Having got the new one, what did you do with your old attire?"
Disciple: "I am using it as my bed spread."
Buddha: "Then I hope you have disposed off your old bed spread."
Disciple: "No.. no.. Master. I am using my old bedspread as my window curtain."
Buddha: "What about your old Curtain?"
Disciple: "It is being used to handle hot utensils in the kitchen."
Buddha: "Oh.. I see.. Can you tell me what did they do with the old cloth they used in kitchen?"
Disciple: "They are being used to swab the floor."
Buddha: "Then, the old rug being used to swab the floor...???"
Disciple: "Master, since they were torn so much, we could not find any better use, but to use as wicks in oil lamps. One such wick is right now lit in your study room...."
Buddha smiled in contentment and left for his room.
If not to this degree of utilization, can we at least attempt to find the best use of all our resources - at home and at office .. ?
Treat the earth well.....it was not given to you by your parents; it was loaned to you by your children. We did not inherit the earth from our ancestors; we have borrowed it from our children.
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