Grass Eaters
One afternoon, a wealthy lawyer was being driven in his big car.
Looking out of the car window, he saw two men eating grass by the
road-side. He asked his driver to stop and he got out to investigate.
“Why are you eating grass?” he asked one of the men.
“We are hungry. We don’t have any food to eat," the poor man replied.
“Oh, come along with me then,” the lawyer said.
“But sir, I have a wife and two children.”
“That’s fine. Bring them along. And you,” he told the other man, “can
come with us too.”
“But sir, I too have a wife and two children,” the second man said.
“No problem,” the lawyer said. “Bring them all along.”
And so all the poor people got into the big car. Along the way, one of
the poor fellows said, “Sir, you are so very kind. How can we thank you
for taking all of us with you to your home?”
The lawyer smiled wickedly and said, “No problem, the grass in my
backyard is about two and a half feet tall.”
Reflection
Beware! The very people whom you think are kind and
helpful can have selfish intentions. They may be out to
exploit you. Today, our materialistic world is full of people
blinded by greed, covetousness and delusion. There are so
many out to deceive and cheat for easy gain. Sincerity,
honesty, kindness and compassion seem to diminish in our
present world. Dhammaduta workers need to work hard to try to
inculcate true moral virtues and values especially among the young.
With Metta,
Bro. Oh Teik Bin

Self-Interest
For the umpteenth time, Brian a college student had been telling
the college principal, “Sir, I’m so scared. Mr. Weller says he’s
going to kill me if I continue studying in this college.”
The principal was getting tired hearing this over and over again.
“Don’t worry, Brian,” the principal replied. “Just ignore the
threat. We will all continue to pray for you.”
“Thank you, sir,” Brian said, “but this morning Mr. Weller said
that if I keep coming to this college, he’s going to kill the
principal.”
“Well, now,” the principal said, “perhaps it’s time for you to
check out the college opposite ours. It offers similar courses …
and they’re as good as ours.”
Reflection
When it comes to one’s own self-interest, one’s own
principles are set aside and hypocrisy is practiced. This
self-interest, self-centeredness, attachment and
selfishness will lead one more and more to suffering
eventually. Self-interest and attachment can propel one
to unwholesome actions, actions rooted in greed and
delusion. This will bring about their fall eventually and
more dukkha (Suffering) arises. Such is the Law of
Cause and Effect.