06:17
Unknown
One hot day, a thirsty fox was looking down into a deep well, and fell in.
"I wanted some water, but not this much" said the fox to himself, as he splashed around in the water.
"Now how am I going to get out of here" he said, looking up at the top of the well.
Just then a thirsty goat came to the well. He looked down and was surprised to see the fox in the water.
"What are you doing down there?" asked the goat.
"I came down to get some of this wonderful cool water" said the fox, pretending everything was alright.
"Come on down and try some. It's the best water you'll ever taste" he shouted up at the goat. 'And there isn't any more water for miles."
"I'm thirsty, and that water does look so good" thought the goat.
"OK. Look out, I'm coming down," the goat shouted to the fox as he jumped down into the well.
Just as the goat started drinking, the fox said, "There's one small problem. The top of the well is so high it's going to be hard getting out of here. But don't worry I have a plan."
"If," he said to the goat "you put your front feet on the wall of the well, I'll run up your back and jump up to the top. Once I'm out I'll help you to get out too."
The goat did as he was told and the fox leapt onto his back, jumped up on to his horns, and then scrambled up out of the well.
"That was a really good plan" said the fox.
"See you later" he said, looking down at the goat.
"But, what about me?" cried the goat from the bottom of the well.
"If you had any brains you would never have gone down there until you had worked out how to get out." said the fox.
Moral: Look before you leap.
06:10
Unknown
One day, while he was out walking, a fox saw a crow swoop down and pick up a piece of cheese in its beak. The crow then flapped its wings and flew up onto a high branch in a nearby tree.
“Man, that's a tasty looking piece of cheese,” said the fox to himself.
“Hey, I should have that cheese. I’m the fox and I deserve it,” he said. “I’m a sly, smooth talking fox too. I’ll have it soon enough."
The fox walked over to the foot of the tree. “Hi ya, Miss Crow” cried the fox.
“How are you today?" asked the fox. "You’re looking mighty fine. Is there something different about you? Have you changed shampoo?"
"Your feathers look so glossy and black and your eyes are sparkling like diamonds," said the fox, flattering the crow. "Hey, have you lost weight? Your figure looks great,”
“Wow, if you can sing as good as you look then I'll have to call you Queen of all Birds” said the fox.
Flattered by all the compliments from the fox, and wanting to be called Queen of all Birds, the crow lifted her head and began to sing.
But the moment she opened her mouth the cheese fell out, and the quick fox jumped and caught it before it hit the ground.
“Yes!!!” yelled the fox, holding the cheese up over his head as he did his victory dance. “I got what I wanted.”
The fox looked up at the sad crow in the tree. “To show you I’m not a really bad guy I’ll give you some advice for the future” he said to the crow.
Moral: Never trust a flatterer.
06:39
Unknown
One day a fox was out walking when suddenly he heard a loud snapping noise and felt a sharp pain in his rear.
“Ooooow!!!!” howled the fox, tears coming to his eyes. “That hurts. Ooooow!!!
The fox looked behind him and saw his tail was caught in a trap. He struggled and struggled to get free but his tail was firmly stuck in the jaws of the trap.
With one last frantic effort the fox used all his strength and broke free.
“Ooooow!!!!” howled the fox as he looked behind him and saw his tail still stuck in the trap. All he had left was a little stump on his backside.
“My tail, my beautiful fluffy tail. What will I do?” he cried. “How will I face all the other foxes without my beautiful tail? It will be so embarrassing.”
The fox thought and thought and finally came up with a plan.
He called all the other foxes together for a meeting.
When the other foxes saw the little stump on his backside they began to laugh.
“I've cut off my tail on purpose and I want you all to do the same” he yelled over the laughter.
“A large tail is more trouble than it's worth”, he shouted. “When we're being chased by dogs it gets in the way, and when we get together for a talk you never know what to do with it. Do you wrap it around your feet, do you sit on it, or do you leave it out for some one to trip over?” asked the fox.
“So now is the time to free yourself from your tail and join me in a tailless society.”
One of the older foxes shook his head and said, “You wouldn’t be saying that if you still had a beautiful tail. You’re only saying that out of your own self interest and because you’re embarrassed.”
All the other foxes walked off laughing with their big bushy tails proudly pointing upwards.
Moral: Do not trust some one with self-interest.
06:22
Unknown
A fox and a cat were out walking together when the fox began boasting how clever he was.
“I’m prepared for any situation” said the Fox. “I have a whole bag of tricks to choose from if my enemies try to capture me.”
“I’m afraid I’ve only got one trick, but it has always worked for me” The cat said timidly.
The fox looked at the cat and shook his head “One trick, how dumb is that? I’ve got hundreds of ways of escaping” said the fox.
“I still think it’s better to have one trick that works than waste time trying to choose from a dozen that might” said the cat softly.
“Rubbish” shouted the fox. “You’re just not as smart as me”
Just then they heard a pack of dogs barking as they coming towards them. The cat immediately ran up the nearest tree and hid on one of the highest branches.
“That’s my trick” the cat called from high up in the tree. “You had better reach into that bag of tricks of yours and choose one right now or you're history”
“Ok, Ok, stay calm” said the fox to himself.
“Should I run and hide behind the nearest hedge?
Or should I jump down a burrow?”
The dogs were getting closer and closer.
“Down a burrow that’s the way to go” said the fox, and started running around the field looking for a burrow.
“No, that one’s too small, I can’t get down far enough. This one’s too big, they could get down too. Maybe that one over there?”
Too late. While the fox wasted time, confused by so many choices, the dogs caught him and killed him.
The cat looked down sadly and said, “It’s better to have one safe way than a hundred you can’t choose from.” The End
06:00
Unknown
One day in the early morning Gautama Buddha was sitting in a garden quietly with his disciples. A man arrived silently and stood in the shadows, that man was a great devotee of Lord Rama. He had built many temples across the country, he had devoted many years in the service of Lord Rama. He would always chant Rama's name and contemplate on Rama's greatness. He was old and close to his last years. Even after many years of dedicated spiritual effort he was not realized.
He wanted to know for sure if there is a God or not? When he heard about the realized one (Buddha) , he came to get his doubt cleared. When he felt nobody would notice him talking to Siddartha, the Buddha. He asked Gautama "O enlightened one, Please tell me the truth! and truth only. Is there a god?".
Buddha, from his intuition knew that man to be a great devotee of Lord Rama, he looked at that man with seriousness and said "No, My friend. There is no god".
Buddha's disciples that were gathered there were very relieved and joyous to finally know the truth that there was no god. They all started muttering between them, sharing what the Buddha had just told. Whenever a disciple had asked that question to Buddha he would become silent. So they never knew.
His words spread through the whole town, the whole town was celebrating the day on which the truth of NO GOD was revealed by the enlightened. They were finally free of the ideas of hell, heaven and of somebody sitting up to judge one's actions.
It was getting late in the evening, and once again the disciples came back and sat around the Buddha.
There was a materialist who had been an atheist all his life, he had convinced 1000s of people that there was no god, he used to go to the priests and scholars and defeat them in the argument about god.
He too was getting old and little suspicion arose in him, "what if there is god? isn't it waste of my life to spread the "NO GOD" message if there is god?" he thought. He was eaten by this doubt, he finally decided to know the truth and sought the enlightened one.
He slowly came up to where Buddha was sitting, and asked him "They say you are enlightened, Please tell me if there is GOD?".
Buddha knowing that man to be an atheist said with firm voice as if he is in firm conviction "Yes, there is God". Buddha's disciples once again were back to confusion.
Moral of the story: Belief that there is God or belief that there is no God are both equally useless, one has to realize the truth in himself with diligent self-effort. Enlightened one had told each of them what they had to know in order for them to get stronger on their spiritual quest.
05:52
Unknown
There was an young woman named Shabari who was a daughter of a hunter. She wasn't a good looking woman, but her heart was pure gold. Before the day of her wedding she saw 1000s of goats and sheep that her father had brought to sacrifice, as it was a custom among the hunters of that time.
She couldn't bear to see those animals being killed, so she ran away into the forest in the early morning to avoid the killing of those animals.
She went to many teachers and asked them to take her as their disciple and teach her 'true wisdom' (Brahma Jnana), all the teachers rejected her because she was of a low caste and wasn't worthy to learn Brahma Jnana.
Sage Matanga welcome her and took her as his disciples, other rishis and yogis condemned him for taking an outcaste as the disciple, they criticized him, called him fallen, impure.
Sage Matanga told Shabari "Oh my daughter, stay in my Ashram, clean the place, take care of the chores, serve, it will do good to you."
"But other rishis in the forest are not happy about you taking me as your disciple" says Shabari
"You have come to me seeking the greatest, I'll give you shelter" Sage was firm in his decision.
She was living peacefully in the Ashram, doing her daily duties, taking cows to the pastures and so on. Those rishis who were still ignorant rejected Shabari's Guru, calling him an impure one.
One day when Sage Matang was very old he called his disciple Shabari and said "My Daughter, I'm leaving this body, is there anything you want me to do for you?"
Shabari prayed "Lord take me with you to the highest abode you are going. I can not live without you"
Sage Matanga said "Dear, One day Lord Rama will come to see you, until then stay alive, after that you can come to me"
Shabari stayed alive in anticipation of Lord Rama, She would get up early morning every day and go to the forest to collect the berries to serve Lord Rama, she didn't know when Rama would come, she would go to the forest and collect berries every day. In that manner she spent many years.
There was a beautiful and grand lake called Pampasar near her Guru's Ashram. Shabari who is now very old went to the lake with her pot made up of mud to collect water, there was a rishi sitting there with long beard and matted hairs chanting mantras, he was old and was reciting mantras wrongly, he heard this outcaste woman filling the divine water of the lake.
He thought "This low caste woman is making the water impure for our use" he threw a stone at her in anger, it hit her leg and the blood came out, a drop of blood fell into the lake, with seconds all the water in the lake became blood. Rishi started shouting loudly "Look, a drop of this outcaste's blood has turned the whole lake into blood, what should we do now?"
Shabari went to her Ashram with her filled pot, still crying with pain. Rishis had no water to drink or to use for the sacred rites. They started chanting purification mantras, doing Yagnas and Havanas, throwing holy powders into the lake but nothing helped. Water still remained blood. They brought water from Ganga, it was of no use, thy brought Yamuna water, it was of no use
Someone in the group said, "Lord Rama has come, he is wandering in the forest, he can help us, let's go to him and pray him to turn this blood into water again"
Rama came upon their request to Pampasar, it was red everywhere, rishis were all standing around him.
Rama asked "What can I do for you now?"
"Lord, touch of your feet will change this into water back" said the rishis
Rama walked into the lake but the blood still stayed blood
"Take a dip in it Lord" said the rishis gathered there
Rama took a dip in it, but nothing changed.
"Lord, it is our last wish. Would you please clean your mouth with it and spit back into it" they requested
Rama took the blood with both hands, "But this is blood brother" said Lakshman, Rama took blood in his mouth and spit it back, but that did not change the lake.
Rama asked them "Tell me How did it become blood?"
One of the rishis said "There was a sage living here, he had an outcaste disciple Shabari, he has died but she still lives, she came to fetch water from this lake, a rishi threw a stone at her, it injured her and a drop of her blood fell into the river, it turned all the water into blood"
Rama on hearing the name of Shabari placed both of his hands on his heart and said "Oh rishis that was not Shabari's blood, that was the blood from my heart, I can not clean this."
"Lord our life has become difficult, we can not live without this water"
"I have come to see her, bring her to me, send someone to bring her"
One of them went to Shabari and said "Lord Rama has come and he is requesting you"
Shabari on hearing Lord Rama's name came running to see him, rishis thought her impure shadow should not touch the Lord and tried to stop her. The soil from her feet fell into the water as she was running hastily, blood turned back into water. Everyone was surprised and were asking themselves "What happened? what happened?"
Lord Rama said "Did you see, dust from Shabari's feet has purified the lake. I bathed in it, cleaned my mouth but nothing changed. Dust from the feet of pure devotee purified the lake"
Shabari prayed to Lord Rama "now, please come to my hut Lord, I have decorated it with flowers for you, I have brought sweet berries for you. Please come my Lord"
Rama and Lakshman followed her to her hermitage, she brought them sweet berries in a bowl she had made with the leaves of a tree. Rama was pleased with the hard work she had gone through to bring him berries.
"Lord I have selected only the sweet berries for you, I tasted every berry to make sure I have only brought the sweetest berries, please take it my lord"
When Rama was about to take a berry Lakshman said "Brother these are half eaten, no good to eat". Rama took a fruit and ate it, he said to Lakshman "Brother, these berries are so sweet, I have never tasted berries as sweet as Shabari's berries. Whomsoever offers a fruit, a leaf, a flower or water with love, I take it with great joy"
Rama was touched by her love, he saw the leaves she had used to make the bowl, he blessed the tree that the leaves naturally grow to become like bowls. Rama asked her "Ask me anything you wish, I'm pleased by your devotion"
Shabari prays "Lord unite the light of my soul with the light of my Guru's soul". Rama blesses her and leaves, Shabari's body disappears, her soul merges with her Guru's.
07:40
Unknown
Once there was a battle fought between Brahmins (virtues) and Kshatriyas (passions). Vaishyas and Shudras sided with the Brahmins in the war. Warriors on both the sides were equally skilled. But because of other Varnas joining them, Brahmins group had a large number compared to Kshatriyas and were sure they would win.
Surprisingly Kshatriyas were winning most of the battles. Againa and again they defeated Brahmins (virtues). Finally Brahmins asked Kshatriyas how it was possible for them to defeat Brahmins despite them being more in number.
For that Kshatriyas said "We have appointed an intelligent and brave warrior as our commander, we act according to his directions. Thus we all act as one. But you are all divided, each of you acted according to your own wishes."
Brahmins (virtues, soul qualities) appointed a brave and intelligent warrior as their leader, they fought with the Kshatriyas (passions, tendencies) again, very well organized this time, and won the war by uniting every solider under the leadership of an able and right leader
Moral of the story: Passions will keep winning, until all virtues team up under wisdom and courage.
07:34
Unknown
There was an ardent devotee of Lord Vishnu. He worshipped Lord Vishnu with deep reverence, and he worshipped Lord Vishnu alone. There was no seat for any other God in his heart.
Every day he worshipped Lord with more and more devotion, he did penance often to make his Lord happy. He fasted once in a week and on holy days to gain his Lord's love. He lived everyday in accordance to teachings of scriptures.
He had become a beautiful man, except that he wished to see Lord in Vishnu's form. Now that the devotee is ripe, Lord thought of visiting him.
One day, after his regular morning worship, he prayed to God, 'O Hari, why don't you bless me with the sight of your blessed feet. My heart's aching without you, won't you bless your child with your vision?'
Lo! the statue of Lord Vishnu began to take life in front of him. The radiant light of the Lord filled the whole room. The intensity of the light gradually decreased and now he saw the blessed Lord standing in front of him.
The Lord was standing as half Shiva and half Vishnu, The devotee was very happy to see the Lord finally, but he was little puzzled by the Lord's mischief.
The stubborn devotee suddenly realized something; he took a piece of cotton and closed Shiva's Nostril.
Moral of the story: sometimes even an advanced spiritual seeker is stubborn, one should try to change for good, when God presents a chance.
07:28
Unknown
Once Lord Ganesha was invited to a big feast and there were many dishes and sweets prepared for him. Since he was fond of sweets, he started having much than his normal capacity.
He noticed that his stomach was swollen and it made him feel guilty. Since he dint want anyone to notice him in such a situation, he grab hold of a snake and wrapped it around his stomach to disguise his swollen belly. Still he dint feel like moving out in such condition so he was waiting for night to fall so that no one can see him. As it became dark Lord Ganesha started to his place but moon saw Lord Ganesha and started laughing nonstop, seeing this Lord Ganesha got angry and cursed the moon that he will be invisible on day from that day onwards.
Hearing this Moon was shocked and begged for forgiveness. Lord Ganesha wanted to forgive Moon but he couldn’t revoke his curse so he proclaimed that the moon would grow thinner each day and remain invisible for one day in a month, which we call as amavasya which we consider as inauspicious. This story tells us the moral that we should be kind in our actions and forgive those who repent for their mistakes.
07:09
Unknown
Usually we have heard many stories about the students sacrifice or great offerings to their masters or guru’s. But here we have a story about the Guru who can do anything for his disciple.
Saint Haridas as we know he was a prominent Vaishnava saint who has spread the Hare Krishna movement. Saint Haridas was born as Muslim and then he became a great devotee of Krishna and converted himself as a Brahmana.
It is said that in his previous birth he was son of Richika Muni and Prahlad, and while Lord Krishna visit to their place saint haridas as son of Richika muni picked a tulasi leaf and offered it to Krishna without washing it, so his father cursed him to become a mleccha (non vaishnava) in his next birth.
Saint Haridas has to chant the name of Lord Krishna 3,000,000 times daily. As Hari Das Thakur grew old, it became difficult for him to maintain his vow of chanting 3,000,000 times every day. Seeing his pain Lord Krishna told him that he is his great disciple no need for him to show such attachment for devotional service in practice; he could thus reduce the number of Holy Names that he chanted every day. Hari Das then revealed what was really bothering him.
Saint Haridas knew that Lord Krishna would soon be ending his times in this world and he wished to leave before him. The affectionate Lord granted him his wish, even though Lord Krishna was not happy with the decision.
Saint Haridas Thakur sat in front of Lord Krishna and then, as the tears flowed from his eyes, he gazed at the Lord's face and took his feet on his chest and, while chanting the names "Krishna Chaitanya", voluntarily left his body like Bhishma. When Saint Haridas gave up his body, Lord Krishna took “Biksha” in the market of Puri and collected money for the ‘Vijaya Yathra’ of his disciple. When other disciples wanted to bear the holy body of Haridas on their shoulders with great eager, Lord didn’t give them that opportunity and he alone carried the holy body of the very great Haridas to the ‘Rudra Bhoomi’. Lord Krishna’s love for Haridas is immeasurable.
Moral of the Story: Guru's Love is beyond of everything
06:19
Unknown
Once two friends were walking through the forest. They knew that
anything dangerous can happen to them at any time in the forest. So they
promised each other that they would remain united in any case of
danger.
Suddenly, they saw a large bear approaching them. One of the friends at
once climbed a nearby tree. But the other one did not know how to climb.
So being led by his common sense, he lay down on the ground breathless,
pretending to be a dead man.
The bear came near the man lying on the ground. It smelt in his ears,
and slowly left the place. Because the bears do not touch the dead
creatures.Now the friend on the tree came down and asked his friend on
the ground, “Friend, what did the bear tell you into your ears?” The
other friend replied, “The bear advised me not to believe a false
friend.”
Moral: True Friend is the one who always supports and stands by you in any situation.
06:03
Unknown
One day a young man was standing in the middle of the town proclaiming that he
had the most beautiful heart in the whole valley. A large crowd gathered and
they all admired his heart, for it was perfect. There was not a mark or a flaw
in it.
Yes, they all agreed, it truly was the most beautiful heart they had ever seen.
The young man was very proud, and boasted more loudly about his beautiful heart.
Suddenly, an old man appeared at the front of the crowd and said "Why, your
heart is not nearly as beautiful as mine." The crowd and the young man looked at
the old man's heart. It was beating strongly, but was full of scars. It had
places where pieces had been removed and other pieces put in, but they didn't
fit quite right and there were several jagged edges. In fact, in some places
there were deep gouges where whole pieces were missing.
The people stared. How can he say his heart is more beautiful?, they thought.The
young man looked at the old man's heart and saw its state and laughed. "You must
be joking," he said. "Compare your heart with mine. Mine is perfect and yours is
a mess of scars and tears." "Yes," said the old man, "Yours is perfect looking
but I would never trade with you. You see, every scar represents a person to
whom I have given my love. I tear out a piece of my heart and give it to them,
and often they give me a piece of their heart which fits into the empty place in
my heart, but because the pieces aren't exact, I have some rough edges, which I
cherish, because they remind me of the love we shared. Sometimes I have given
pieces of my heart away, and the other person hasn't returned a piece of his
heart to me. These are the empty gouges - giving love is taking a chance.
Although these gouges are painful, they stay open, reminding me of the love I
have for these people too, and I hope someday they may return and fill the space
I have waiting. So now do you see what true beauty is?"
The young man stood silently with tears running down his cheeks. He walked up to
the old man, reached into his perfect young and beautiful heart, and ripped a
piece out. He offered it to the old man with trembling hands. The old man took
his offering, placed it in his heart and then took a piece from his old, scarred
heart and placed it in the wound in the young man's heart. It fit, but not
perfectly, as there were some jagged edges.
