Quote:
“The greater part of our happiness or misery depends on our dispositions and not our circumstances.”
… Martha Washington
A story: Happiness and Sorrow
A man who has gone out of his town comes back and finds that his house is on fire.
It was one of the most beautiful houses in the town, and the man loved the house the most!
Many were ready to give a double price for the house, but he had never agreed for any price and now it is just burning before his eyes.
And thousands of people have gathered, but nothing can be done, the fire has spread so far that even if you try to put it out, nothing will be saved. So he became very sad.
His son comes running and whispers something in his ear, “Don’t be worried. I sold it yesterday and at a very good price.
The offer was so good, I could not wait for you. Forgive me.”
The Father said, “thank God, it’s not ours now!”
Then he became relaxed and stood as a silent watcher, just like 1000s of other watchers.
Then the second son comes running, and he says to the father, “What are you doing?
The house is on fire and you are only watching it burn?”
The father said, “Don’t you know, your brother has sold it.”
He said, “We have taken only advance token amount, not settled fully. I doubt now that the man is going to purchase it now.”
Tears which had disappeared came back to the father’s eyes, his heart started to beat fast.
And then the third son comes, and he says, “That man is a man of his word. I have just come from him.”
He said, “It doesn’t matter whether the house is burnt or not, it is mine. And I am going to pay the price that I have settled for. Neither you knew, nor did I know that the house would catch on fire.”
Then all just stood and watched the house burn without a worry.
Sorrow and Happiness followed after each son came with their advice.
But, most important thing to understand is, how his feeling changed.
Here nobody is wrong but it could have been handled in a better manner.
Learning:
This is how in the present time, things have come to give a priority to our relations and friendship – based on loss or profit ratio.
Happiness and sorrow are your own perceived notion and emotions
YouTube video link of this topic: Happiness and Sorrow – YouTube
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