Soh Loh, who did not know how to talk to ladies, asked inappropriate questions on a flight based on his friend's advice. He first asked a lady if she was married, to which she said no, but then asked if she had any children, and received a slap for being rude. He then asked the other lady if she had children, who said yes, but then foolishly asked if she was married and got slapped again. The story reflects on how wrong speech can cause trouble and hurt others due to lack of consideration for others' feelings and ignorance. Ah Gong, an ignorant man, tried to conduct a spider experiment by cutting its legs but drew the stupid conclusion that cutting all a spider's

1. Wisdom From
A Laugh 11
'Are You Married?'
Soh Loh did not know how to talk to ladies. Once,
before going on a foreign trip, his friend said that
if he were to meet a lady, he could ask questions
such as
1) Are you married?
2) Do you have any children?
Soh Loh boarded the plane and sat between two
ladies. After a while, he turned to one of the
ladies and said, "Are you married?" The lady
replied, "No." He then asked, "Do you have any
children?" The lady slapped him muttering about
his rudeness.
Ah Soh then turned to the other lady and asked,
“Do you have any children?" The lady replied ,"Oh
yes!" Ah Soh, without thinking asked, "Are you
married?" He received another slap.
Reflection
* How often have we, due to wrong speech, caused
trouble, hurt to others , quarrels and fights?
* Wrong speech is often due to a lack of mindfulness,
understanding, consideration for others' feelings and sheer
stupidity and ignorance.
* Practice Right Speech : No Lying, No Slander, No Harsh
Speech and No Stupid or Frivolous Talk.
* We should practice Truthful Speech, Speech which
brings harmony and reconciliation, Kind Speech
and Beneficial Speech which can help others grow
in Compassion and Wisdom.
With Metta,
Bro. Oh Teik Bin

2. WISDOM
FROM
A
LAUGH
12
Stupid 'Scientist'
Ah Gong, an ignorant and dull-witted young man, decided
to become a scientist. He started his first experiment with a
spider. He cut two of its legs, and said to the spider,
"Move". The spider moved. Then he removed two more
legs and again said, "Move". The poor spider wriggled in
pain and moved a little. Then Ah Gong removed the
remaining legs and ordered the spider to move. This time
the spider did not move.
Ah Gong wrote the following conclusion in his note book:
“IF YOU CUT ALL THE LEGS OF A SPIDER IT BECOMES
DEAF.”
Reflection:
* Out of ignorance, no understanding, no
compassion, a person can resort to acts of cruelty
that cause pain to others.
* When one lacks understanding and clear
comprehension, one can make stupid and
erroneous conclusions from the data and
information one gets or observation one makes
from the outside world.
* Only the wise can truly understand and see the
true nature of things.
With Metta,
Bro. Oh Teik Bin