The insurance agent persuades a client to lie on his insurance application. When asked about his father's cause of death, the client explains his father was hanged for smuggling drugs. The agent tells him to write that his father died when a platform collapsed at an official function. This story shows how people resort to cunning ways and lies out of self-interest. One should pursue a moral life and not be attached to material things, as death levels all and the consequences of one's actions cannot be escaped.

1. Wi s d o m
Fr o m A
La u g h
Insurance 79
Application
A cunning insurance agent was trying to sell an
insurance policy to a prospective client. He
managed to sweet talk the man into signing up for
the policy. As the applicant was filling up the
form, he came upon a part and hesitated. The
agent asked him what the trouble was. The client
answered that he could not answer the question
about the cause of death of his father. The
insurance agent persuaded him to tell him why.
After some embarrassment, the client explained
that his father had been hanged for smuggling
drugs. The insurance agent pondered for a while
and then said, “Just write: ‘My father was asked to
take part in an official function when the platform
he was standing on suddenly gave way.’”
Reflections
There is so much dishonesty today. This generally
arises from greed, covetousness and unwholesome
desires. When one's mind is filled with greed and
attachment ... wanting to own, possess material things
and wealth ... one may be driven to break the moral
precepts and carry out lying, cheating/stealing or even
killing. For their own self - interests, today so many
people resort to cunning ways to hide the actual truth.
The wise person realizes the danger of immoral
actions that have kammic consequences. All material
possessions, wealth ... even our physical bodies ... are
impermanent. Death levels all ... realizing this, one
should live a life based on morality, generosity and
mental cultivation to reach the true states of
happiness, peace and freedom.

2. Wisdom
From A
LAugh 80
Picking a Punishment
When evil Mr. Blackheart died he was sent to hell. Satan
met him and showed him the doors to three rooms.
Blackheart had to choose one room and spent an eternity in
the room. At the door of the first room, he saw people
suffering with cow manure up to their necks. He asked
Satan to show him the second room. There he saw
screaming people in the room filled with cow manure up to
the mouths of the people. “It’s terrible,” Blackheart told
Satan. “Show me the third room.” In the third room, there
were people with cow manure up to their knees and they
were eating cakes and drinking tea. “I choose this room,”
Blackheart said.
Blackheart joined the people in the room eating his cake
and drinking his cup of tea. “At least it’s not as bad as the
other two rooms,” Blackheart thought to himself. Just as he
was about to finish his tea, Satan appeared again at the
door and announced, “Tea break is over. Now back on your
heads again!”
Reflection
We can never be sure what is in store for us. Just
when one thinks that one has taken the best path,
the unexpected can happen. Appearances do not
always tell the whole story .