Short Stories for Children and Elders (Digest 2 : 5 stories)

[Ashok]

LIGHT YOUR OWN LAMP

“Lord! The sun is following me. Wherever I go it is behind me. What kind of action is this?”
Lord Indra called the sun and scolded him, “Why do you chase darkness?”
Replied the sun, “Lord! I do not know him. I have not even heard his name. Where does the question of runing behind him arise?”

Do not try to chase away darkness. Become the source of light yourself. Darkness will vanish by itself.

[Ashok]

A multi-storied building. In the morning desirous office-goers gathered there. The lift was under repair. Even after a long wait, it was not repaired. Everybody thought- how long to wait? A solution emerged. Everybody will tell stories and so ease the pain of climbing the stairs. They started climbing up the stairs and stories were told one after another. They had reached the tenth floor. The office peon wanted to say something. The organizer cut him short. When they had reached the forty eighth floors, he asked the peon to tall a story.
“I have no story to tell, “he said.
“Then why did you try to say something in the middle.”
“Oh I only had to say that the key to the office has been left behind in the car, downstairs.”

The one who does not have the key cannot open the door and without opening the door, how can he enter?

[Ashok]

A musician had been invited from far off and the time to perform had come.
Asked the musician, “Tell me which raga should I elaborate upon?”
Said the organizer, “I am not familiar with any raga. My purpose is only to trouble the neighbors. So you sing in a manner that torments them.”

Varied ways, varied people, varied interests. One who has a negative outlook, negative thinking and negative action, he gets pleasure in torturing others.

[Ashok]

A rich businessman was on his deathbed. knowing that his end was near he asked, “Where is my wife?”
“I am standing beside you.”
“Where is my eldest son?”
“I too am at your side.”
“Where is my youngest son?”
“I too am beside you.”
“Then who is at the shop?”

The man who is so attached to his wealth thinks of his shop even at the time of death. He is not thinking of atma (Soul) and paramatma. What can be more amazing!

[Ashok]

Asked Lord Yama, the God of death, “Oh! businessman! Now you have come to the house of Yama, tell me where you want to go. On one side lies hell and on the other, heaven. “Replied the businessman, “Lord! Send me where I can earn my two pennies. “

The man greedy for money does not consider the good and the bad, he only looks for material gains.