Moral Stories:
(These stories have been adapted from AMAR KATHAAEN, published by Sasta Sahitya Mandal, New Delhi, India, 1996.)
This happened about 2500 years ago. Mahaveer was a householder then. One day, he went out for a stroll accompanied by a servant. While walking by a luxurious house Mahaveer heard someone screaming. He stopped and asked his servant, "What is going on in there? Please go inside and find out."
The servant went in and returned after a while. He said, "One man is beating another man. So the one who is being beaten is crying."
Mahaveer asked, "Why is the man beating his fellow man?"
The servant said, "Because one man is a master and the other one is a slave."
Mahaveer became concerned. He said, "How can society allow a man to become a master who has the right to beat up on another fellow man?"
The servant kept quiet for a while. Then he said, "O Prince, not only that, but slaves are bought and sold like cattle."
Mahaveer was deeply hurt. He thought, "What kind of social order is this? All living beings have souls. How can some become masters and make others their slaves? How can one be superior and the other inferior?"
Mahaveer continued to think. Finally he concluded, "This should not happen. It is not fair. All have a right to live with dignity. Nobody can take away this right. We should set up such a social system."
This incident inspired Mahaveer to devote his life for the good of all living beings. The day came when he gave up his kingdom and all material possessions. He spent the rest of his life in uplifting the self and showed the path to happiness to all.
An independent soul values the independence of others the same way as one's own freedom.
A woman came to see Vinoba Bhave, the well-known social leader, and said, "I am very unhappy."
Vinoba asked, "What is the matter?"
In a voice full of grief, she replied, "My husband is an alcoholic. He drinks everyday and abuses me. Sometimes, he beats me up. My life is hell."
Vinoba asked, "When he gets drunk, what do you do?"
She replied, "I get upset. Earlier, I used to scold him. That did not help. So now I have started to observe fasts."
"You do not eat or drink during the fast?," asked Vinoba.
"No," she said, "I eat fruit."
Vinoba said in a simple natural tone, "Oh, then your husband must get very upset. Your eating fruits must have increased the household expenses."
The woman kept quiet. Tears filled her eyes.
Vinoba said, "Nobody can be made to give up wrong things by our getting angry or by our giving up food. We can change others through love and patience. The love that can make the difference comes from within. Our hearts should be pure. If there are bad feelings in our hearts and we show insincere love, it makes matters worse."
The woman asked, "What should I do? I lose control of my senses when I see him drunk."
"This is the root cause of your trouble," explained Vinoba. He continued, "You can bring your husband back from the path of evil only when you control your own bad feelings. First you should try to change yourself."
The woman bowed and left. The joy of having found a noble way reflected on her face.
This story is of the time when Mahatma Gandhi was touring Noakhali. Wherever Mahatma Gandhi went, the press reporters followed him. Representatives from the local newspapers were also among them. They asked a variety of questions. Mahatma Gandhi would reply them gently and patiently.
One day, a press reporter asked, "Gandhiji, in 1925, you said that you would like to have a clause in the Indian constitution stating that in independent India only those individuals who serve the country by doing some manual work will have a right to vote. Do you still believe that?"
Mahatma Gandhi replied, "Yes, this is still important today." He added, "I will continue to believe in this idea throughout my life. I believe that it is the supreme religion of all men that they should not eat without doing some manual work. Those who are wealthy can contribute but they should still do physical labor before eating. I believe that accumulating money and materials of comfort through one's ingenuity, and passing one's life in creature comforts is a sin."
A person had an extremely devoted servant. One day, a pen accidentally slipped from the hand of the servant. It fell to the ground and broke. The man got very upset and said, "See what you have done? This pen was presented to me by a dear friend."
The servant did not say anything. He went out and started to clean the hallway. He was extremely saddened about what had happened.
A little later, the man called the servant in. He held his servant's hand and said, "You serve me well with all your ability. I could not live without your help. Today, for a small mistake, I became so angry. Please forgive me."
The servant was dumbfounded. What was his 'master' saying! He was surprised and said, "Babu, I made a mistake. You were right in getting angry at me."
The master's eyes were filled with tears. With great difficulty, he said, "I will not let go of you unless you forgive me."
Hearing his master's words made the servant's heart heavy, and he started to weep like a child. He wiped the tears from his master's eyes and said, "Babu, please do not be sorry. I forgive you."
The 'master' was the first President of India, Dr. Rajendra Prasad, and the servant was Sita Ram. Needless to say, the relation between them was like a father and son.