MORAL STORIES
THE BOSS
Working 12 to 18 hours a day was not uncommon for scientists at the rocket launching station, Thumba. A group of such scientists were frustrated due to the work pressure and meeting their boss' demands; however, they were loyal to him.
On a particular day, a scientist picked up enough courage to go up to his boss and say, "Sir, I have promised my children that I will take them to the exhibition this evening. Therefore, I have to leave the office at 5:30 pm. Can I leave early today, Sir?"
His boss replied, "Alright. You may leave early today."
The scientist was happy for having received the permission and went on to continue his work. He stayed on to work after lunch, and, as always, got so engrossed in his work that that he peered at his watch only when he thought he was done. Unfortunately, it was past 08:15 pm.
With a jolt, he remembered his promise to his children. He looked for his boss who was not in his office. Having told him just that morning, he wrapped up work and hurried home.
As he drove home, he felt very guilty for letting his children down. He reached home. The children were not at home while his wife was busy reading. He felt that initiating any conversation with her would only add fuel to fire and stayed momentarily quiet.
Looking up at him, his wife asked, "Do you want something hot to drink or have dinner right away?"
The man could only ask, "Where are the children?"
His wife said, “Don’t you now? Your boss came here at 5.15 PM and took the children to the exhibition you promised to take them to".
He was surprised. But, it did not take him too long to guess what happened.
The boss who granted him permission observed him working very seriously well past 5.00 p.m. He thought to himself that the scientist will not leave the work until it is done, but if he has promised his children a visit to exhibition, then they deserve it. So, he took the lead in taking them to the exhibition himself.
On a particular day, a scientist picked up enough courage to go up to his boss and say, "Sir, I have promised my children that I will take them to the exhibition this evening. Therefore, I have to leave the office at 5:30 pm. Can I leave early today, Sir?"
His boss replied, "Alright. You may leave early today."
The scientist was happy for having received the permission and went on to continue his work. He stayed on to work after lunch, and, as always, got so engrossed in his work that that he peered at his watch only when he thought he was done. Unfortunately, it was past 08:15 pm.
With a jolt, he remembered his promise to his children. He looked for his boss who was not in his office. Having told him just that morning, he wrapped up work and hurried home.
As he drove home, he felt very guilty for letting his children down. He reached home. The children were not at home while his wife was busy reading. He felt that initiating any conversation with her would only add fuel to fire and stayed momentarily quiet.
Looking up at him, his wife asked, "Do you want something hot to drink or have dinner right away?"
The man could only ask, "Where are the children?"
His wife said, “Don’t you now? Your boss came here at 5.15 PM and took the children to the exhibition you promised to take them to".
He was surprised. But, it did not take him too long to guess what happened.
The boss who granted him permission observed him working very seriously well past 5.00 p.m. He thought to himself that the scientist will not leave the work until it is done, but if he has promised his children a visit to exhibition, then they deserve it. So, he took the lead in taking them to the exhibition himself.
By the way , can you take a guess who this boss could be??
He was none other than Dr. A P J Abdul Kalam.
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THE BIG MONK
Once upon a time a big monk and a little monk were travelling together. They came to the bank of a river and found the bridge was damaged. They had to wade across the river. There was a pretty lady who was stuck at the damaged bridge and couldn't cross the river. The big monk offered to carry her across the river on his back. The lady accepted. The little monk was shocked by the move of the big monk. 'How can big brother carry a lady when we are supposed to avoid all intimacy with females?' thought the little monk. But he kept quiet. The big monk carried the lady across the river and the small monk followed unhappily. When they crossed the river, the big monk let the lady down and they parted ways with her.
All along the way for several miles, the little monk was very unhappy with the act of the big monk. He was making up all kinds of accusations about the big monk in his head. This got him madder and madder. But he still kept quiet. And the big monk had no inclination to explain his situation. Finally, at a rest point many hours later, the little monk could not stand it any further, he burst out angrily at the big monk, 'How can you claim yourself a devout monk, when you seize the first opportunity to touch a female, especially when she is very pretty? All your teachings to me make you a big hypocrite”. The big monk looked surprised and said, 'I had put down the pretty lady at the river bank many hours ago, how come you are still carrying her along?'
MORAL: This very old Chinese Zen story reflects the thinking of many people today. We encounter many unpleasant things in our life. They irritate us and they make us angry. Sometimes, they cause us a lot of hurt, sometimes they cause us to be bitter or jealous.. But like the little monk, we are not willing to let them go away. We keep on carrying the baggage of the 'pretty lady' with us. We let them keep on coming back to hurt us, make us angry, make us bitter and cause us a lot of agony. Why ? Simply because we are not willing to put down or let go of the baggage of the 'pretty lady'. We should let go of the pretty lady immediately after crossing the river that is after the unpleasant event is over. This will immediately remove all our agonies. There is no need to be further hurt by the unpleasant event after it is over.
All along the way for several miles, the little monk was very unhappy with the act of the big monk. He was making up all kinds of accusations about the big monk in his head. This got him madder and madder. But he still kept quiet. And the big monk had no inclination to explain his situation. Finally, at a rest point many hours later, the little monk could not stand it any further, he burst out angrily at the big monk, 'How can you claim yourself a devout monk, when you seize the first opportunity to touch a female, especially when she is very pretty? All your teachings to me make you a big hypocrite”. The big monk looked surprised and said, 'I had put down the pretty lady at the river bank many hours ago, how come you are still carrying her along?'
MORAL: This very old Chinese Zen story reflects the thinking of many people today. We encounter many unpleasant things in our life. They irritate us and they make us angry. Sometimes, they cause us a lot of hurt, sometimes they cause us to be bitter or jealous.. But like the little monk, we are not willing to let them go away. We keep on carrying the baggage of the 'pretty lady' with us. We let them keep on coming back to hurt us, make us angry, make us bitter and cause us a lot of agony. Why ? Simply because we are not willing to put down or let go of the baggage of the 'pretty lady'. We should let go of the pretty lady immediately after crossing the river that is after the unpleasant event is over. This will immediately remove all our agonies. There is no need to be further hurt by the unpleasant event after it is over.
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NEVER GIVEUP ATTITUDE
Nick Vujicic is an Australian evangelist and motivational speaker who was born with no arms and legs. He was suffering from Tetra-Amelia syndrome, a rare disorder characterized by the absence of all four limbs. But this doesn't stop him from taking his life ahead.
The early days were quite difficult for him. Throughout his childhood, Nick not only dealt with the typical challenges in school, but he also struggled with depression and loneliness. But eventually, he came in terms with his disability and, at the age of seventeen, Nick started his own non-profit organization, ‘Life Without Limbs’. Today, he gives motivational speeches all across the world about life with a disability, on hope, and on finding meaning in life. He also talks about his belief that God can use any willing heart to do his work and that God is big enough to overcome any disability. It is his small foot on his left hip that helps him balance and enables him to use his one foot to type, write with a pen and pick things up between his toes
MORAL: Never ever give up. There is no laughter without tears; no joy without sorrow!
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