You can add the following stories to sutta(stolen)stories as I came to know about these after listening to speakers of various backgrounds. I understood one thing after I heard the stories. Good life is all about unconditional love, trust and being positive even in dire circumstances. I wish to tell these stories in Tamil rather than English. But I do not write well in Tamil than I speak Tamil so I stick on to the English that I know.
Yudhistra's Magic in Mahabaratha
Veda Vyasa, the great sage who compiled us the Mahabaratha had a very strange power of knowing everything about the past, present and the future(முக்காலமும் அறிந்த முனிவர்). Even if he knew, the sad thing was that he did not have the power to stop wrong things or neither the right things. But he can warn people for them to be aware of what is going to happen in their lives. Veda Vyasa told Yudhishtra, the eldest of the Pandavas, known for his Dharma, that he is going to be the reason for the war to start. All the responsibility of the huge catastrophe that was about to happen was now on Yudhishtra. Duryodhana, the eldest of the Kauravas, comes to Yudhistra and asks "Do you want to play a war of dice or war of blood?(பகடை போர் அல்லது சண்டை போர்)" When encountered with this question, Yudhistra settles down for a war of dice. He very well knows that playing a war of dice is against Dharma. But still he has got the sole responsibility of safe guarding so many families. That is how the game of dice begins in Hastinapura.
Now, when he is playing the game, he is losing every time. All people are thinking that he is losing everything that he has but on the other hand he is just winning fate. He is keeping his jewellery, money, palace, brothers, people and finally he is keeping his own wife, Draupadi and loses everything. The point is that when Yudhistra is keeping every possession of his in the game of dice, nobody questions him. There is everybody in the coutyard. Vidura, Dronacharya, Bhisma, Kunti, Dhrithrashtra. Nobody questions his act. Bhima, who was not able to tolerate the act of his brother tells Arjuna to burn the hands of Yudhistra. But Arjuna advises Bhima that when Yudhistra does something, there would be an inner meaning in it. Nobody knows what Yudhistra is up against but all that they believe in is that when Yudhistra does something there will certainly be Dharma in it.
யுதிஸ்திரர் மகாபாரத போரை சூது ஆடி 13 ஆண்டுகழுக்கு நிறுத்தி வைத்தார்
When Yudhistra loses everything Pandavas are ordered to exile the forest for 13 long years. Everybody can curse Yudhistra, but what Yudhistra did was he changed the fate of Hastinapur. When he was losing the game of dice with Sakuni and Duryodhana, Yudhistra was on the other hand winning the war with fate. He very well knew that he did not have any power to stop what is going to happen. But all he knew was he had the power to postpone what was about to happen. He gave all the people of Hastinapur 13 more years to live, extra, than what he could have given if he had chosen the war of blood. He sacrificed everything for the sake of the people of Hastinapur, even his own wife. Even during the negotiation to start the war, Sri Krishna is instructed by Yudhistra that Krishna should first ask for 5 villages. If Duryodhana does not grant that then Yudhistra says that Krishna can think about the war. Yudhistra is the last person to accept the war and that too only because Duryodhana told that he won't even give a land equivalent to the tip of a needle to the Pandavas. This is the mark of a true leader. He sacrifices small things and saves on the big ones. One thing that I understood from Yudhistra is that a leader cannot afford to lose sight of the bigger picture. As a ruler of the country, he should always focus his decisions towards the welfare of the people rather than anything else.
People of the country had the faith in Yudhistra which made them enjoy their living for 13 more years.
Brutus killed Ceasar, saved the country.
Just like how Yudhistra was given the options of war of dice or war of blood, Brutus was given the options of whether it is his country that he cares about or his friend, Ceasar. Ceasar during the stabbing tries to fight the 9 people who are stabbing him. Finally as the 10th man, Brutus stabs Ceasar. Ceasar doesn't stop him. Ceasar can see Brutus crying. Everybody knows the famous "You too, Brutus?". The perspective that everyone sees is entirely different from how Ceasar saw it. Ceasar had a deep faith in Brutus. He believed that for every act of Brutus there will be an obvious meaning in the act. That is what is called friendship. It is not only helping in the bad times but also understanding of the relationship.
Confucious and the Tongue
During the last days of his life, Confucious was asked by many people to tell his most important saying in his life. He was surrounded by people during the last day of his life. When he was asked the question, he opened his mouth and showed. People out of curiosity came and had a look at his mouth. He asked them what you can see. They told him that they were only able to see his tongue as his teeth had all fallen. He said "Don't be hard like the teeth. One day or the other it will fall. Be flexible like the tongue, you will live forever." He told the great message to humans through a simple illustration. A man should be flexible to last long. Again, it is in the perspective in which we view it which makes all the difference.
Mahatma Gandhi and the Snake near him.
Mahatma Gandhi was interviewed by the press during a time close to independence. Press people posed him with the question of "What are the main principles that he does follow?" Gandhiji told that there are two of them. One is Truth and the other is Ahimsa. Press people did not stop there. They gave him a situation and asked Gandhiji what he will do. They asked him that if there was a snake near Gandhiji and a stone near him, will he kill the snake with the stone or will he settle down to dying. What do you think Gandhiji would have replied? He said that he will kill the snake with the stone. When asked that how will you do it when it is against your principle of Ahimsa. Gandhiji explained them that, in every circumstance, he will try to maximize his efforts to carry out his principles but if the circumstances do not cater the use of his principles then only he will try to use something which is more practical. The people applauded for his Truth. Even in such a circumstance he is able to stick to his principle of telling the Truth.
Mahakavi Bharathi and Yama
This is the most interesting story of them all. Mahakavi Bharathi, as you all know, was a tough man. He one day went to the temple where he had an elephant he was taming, giving food daily and worshiping everyday. On that particular day, the elephant was mad and ran over Bharathi. Bharathi died because of the elephant that he had nurtured. Bharathi, during his last days, told a sentence which I would like to tell in Tamil. Bharathi is telling Yama, the God of Death.
"எப்போதும் எருமையில் வருபவன் யமன், இன்று என்னை அஞ்சி யானை சவாரி செய்து கொண்டு வந்தான், என்னை வதைபதர்க்கு. யமனும் கோழை ஆனான் இன்று. "
"Today Yama became a coward by coming on an elephant to kill me, when he always comes in a buffalo to take lives."
How positive he is even at the time of death? I believe that this is what we need to learn from this great man. He had been quite different altogether right from a tender age. He read extensively all throughout his life. He lives with us through his writings today and his writings suggest that he will live for a very long time in the minds of people. Here again it is the perspective with which he viewed which makes him great.
Abraham Lincoln, The Pig and The Donkey.
Abraham Lincoln was a President of a kind. He was a humorist and also a great man. He was walking down a road one day when he found a pig was stuck in a ditch. He was the President of the country at that time. He went to the ditch and helped the pig out. His dress was smeared with ditch. He went to the White house with the same attire. The next day the press people made sure that the news was there in their papers. "The President helped a Pig out of a ditch without caring about getting dirty." Abraham Lincoln called the press people and told them to make a correction. He said that he did not help the Pig but himself. Press people asked how and he explained " If I did not help the pig then I would have been guilty all day for not helping it out when I can. So I helped myself rather than the pig." This is what makes these people great. The perspective with which they are able to view a situation. He becomes a great leader just because of this perspective. Though it is a pig, he is able to translate the pig's problem as his. This sense of responsibility only makes him great. He is making himself accountable for every problem in the society. Don't you think that this is the mark of a true leader?
On another occasion, while having dinner, Abraham Lincoln finished his dinner. He had a person sitting next to him and having dinner. This fellow wanted to somehow insult Abraham Lincoln. So he was waiting for an opportunity. Lincoln, once his dinner was over, stood up to wash his hands. He forgot to take with him the handkerchief that was one the table. The fellow next to him found this as an opportunity and drew an image of a donkey in the handkerchief. Abraham Lincoln came back after washing and headed straight for the handkerchief when he found that a donkey image was there on the handkerchief. Now he knew that the guy, sitting next to him had done it. He did not want to hurt the person and at the same time wanted to teach him a lesson. So what he did was ask only one question. "Sir, did you clean your face with my handkerchief?" The fellow was embarrassed and did not utter a word. Again, the perspective with which he handles a problem is a lesson for us.
Truly, great people have had different perspectives and that is what has made them great. With their way of thinking and the attitude with which they view their problems, they have made a positive difference in this world. Pardon me if there were any problems in my Tamil.
-SATZ
How positive he is even at the time of death? I believe that this is what we need to learn from this great man. He had been quite different altogether right from a tender age. He read extensively all throughout his life. He lives with us through his writings today and his writings suggest that he will live for a very long time in the minds of people. Here again it is the perspective with which he viewed which makes him great.
Abraham Lincoln, The Pig and The Donkey.
Abraham Lincoln was a President of a kind. He was a humorist and also a great man. He was walking down a road one day when he found a pig was stuck in a ditch. He was the President of the country at that time. He went to the ditch and helped the pig out. His dress was smeared with ditch. He went to the White house with the same attire. The next day the press people made sure that the news was there in their papers. "The President helped a Pig out of a ditch without caring about getting dirty." Abraham Lincoln called the press people and told them to make a correction. He said that he did not help the Pig but himself. Press people asked how and he explained " If I did not help the pig then I would have been guilty all day for not helping it out when I can. So I helped myself rather than the pig." This is what makes these people great. The perspective with which they are able to view a situation. He becomes a great leader just because of this perspective. Though it is a pig, he is able to translate the pig's problem as his. This sense of responsibility only makes him great. He is making himself accountable for every problem in the society. Don't you think that this is the mark of a true leader?
On another occasion, while having dinner, Abraham Lincoln finished his dinner. He had a person sitting next to him and having dinner. This fellow wanted to somehow insult Abraham Lincoln. So he was waiting for an opportunity. Lincoln, once his dinner was over, stood up to wash his hands. He forgot to take with him the handkerchief that was one the table. The fellow next to him found this as an opportunity and drew an image of a donkey in the handkerchief. Abraham Lincoln came back after washing and headed straight for the handkerchief when he found that a donkey image was there on the handkerchief. Now he knew that the guy, sitting next to him had done it. He did not want to hurt the person and at the same time wanted to teach him a lesson. So what he did was ask only one question. "Sir, did you clean your face with my handkerchief?" The fellow was embarrassed and did not utter a word. Again, the perspective with which he handles a problem is a lesson for us.
Truly, great people have had different perspectives and that is what has made them great. With their way of thinking and the attitude with which they view their problems, they have made a positive difference in this world. Pardon me if there were any problems in my Tamil.
-SATZ
