The ShopkeepersTwo shopkeepers were very bitter rivals. They had stores directly facing each other across the road and everyday they would monitor the other’s business. If one had a customer, the other would be filled with great jealousy.
One night a genii appeared to one of the shopkeepers in a dream and said, “I will give you anything you wish for but remember that whatever you ask for, your rival opposite your shop will receive twice as much. You can be very rich but he will be twice as rich as you. Do you want to be famous? Well, he will be twice as famous.
The shopkeeper frowned and thought for a while. Then he said, “Make me blind in one eye and deaf in one ear.”
Reflections
There are cruel and vicious people who would go to extremes to get even with their enemies. A mind that is filled with anger, illwill, jealousy and hatred can propel a person to horrifying acts of evil ... this of course generates very bad kamma that will bring untold suffering to the evil doer. One has to learn to develop thoughts of understanding, loving-kindness, compassion and forgiveness. Only then will one truly attain happiness, peace and freedom.
With Metta,
Bro.Oh Teik Bin
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