This is an old tale of an elderly man traveling from one city to another, carrying three heavy bundles on his back. After a while, he grew tired and sat down by the roadside. Just then, a young boy passed by, heading in the same direction.
The old man called out to the boy, "Listen, son, would you help me? These bundles are very heavy. Please take one of my bundles and deliver it to my village, and I will give you two gold coins."
The boy replied, "No problem, Baba. I am happy to help." He picked up one of the bundles, which was indeed very heavy. The two of them continued walking down the road.
As they walked, the crowd thinned, and the road became deserted. The boy asked, "Baba, why is this bundle so heavy?"
The old man replied, "Son, it contains some copper coins."
The boy thought to himself that Baba must be a businessman carrying so many coins. He wondered briefly if he should do something, but without much thought, he continued walking, happy and carefree.
After some time, they reached a riverbank. The boy waded into the river while the old man stood at the edge. "Son, wait," the old man said. "I can’t cross the river with two bundles. I might slip. Could you carry another bundle for me? I will give you two more gold coins."
The boy responded, "Baba, you don’t have to give me anything. I don’t mind helping you."
The old man was pleased and said, "You seem like a good person. This bundle contains silver coins. Be careful while crossing the river."
As they crossed the river, the boy’s mind began to wander. He thought, "There must be silver coins in this bundle. Baba must have sold some property, and that's why he’s carrying so much money."
The road ahead became even more deserted, and a thought crept into the boy’s mind: "This place is isolated. If I take these coins and run away, no one will be able to catch me. With this money, I could open a shop and secure my future."
The boy hesitated, wondering if he was making the right choice. He thought, "Is it right to take advantage of an old man?" But he could not control his mind for long and continued following the old man, carrying both bundles.
After a long walk, they reached a hill. The old man said, "Son, please take this third bundle as well, and I will give you more gold coins. But be careful; don’t drop it, or it might open."
Curious, the boy asked, "Baba, what’s in this bundle?"
The old man replied, "This bundle contains gold coins."
Without saying anything, the boy took the third bundle. As he carried the load uphill, it grew heavier, but the thought of gold filled his mind with excitement. He thought, "If I get all this money, I will live a life of luxury. Why would Baba need so much money anyway? He’s old, and his life is nearly over."
The boy's greed took over his reasoning, and he convinced himself, "This Baba might be a thief or a wealthy businessman. It wouldn’t be wrong to steal from a thief." He quickened his pace, leaving the old man behind.
The boy decided that once they reached a slope, he would run away with all three bundles. As soon as he saw a downward path, he began running, as if his body was moving on its own. He ran for a long time and finally reached his home safely.
In excitement, he opened the bundles, but to his shock, all three contained nothing but rusty iron coins. The boy was puzzled and wondered why the old man had lied to him. Then he noticed a letter among the coins. It read:
"This entire act was a test to find an honest person. The one who passed would be appointed as the treasurer and chief officer of the state."
The boy sat down, holding his head in his hands. He realized that if he had controlled his thoughts and desires, his life could have changed completely.
Gautam Buddha once said, "The mind is everything. What you think, you become." Your greatest enemy cannot harm you as much as your own uncontrolled thoughts. From thoughts to destiny, Buddha teaches us to look within ourselves carefully. The thoughts we entertain turn into words, which transform into actions. Actions, when repeated, become habits. Over time, habits shape our character, and ultimately, our character defines our destiny. This is why it is crucial to be mindful of our thoughts.
Moreover, weakness always begins with small thoughts. If not checked, these small thoughts can grow into a large tree of misguided beliefs, just like in the story. The boy’s greedy thoughts clouded his judgment and led him to act impulsively. Thus, it is important to uproot negative thoughts at their inception.
To control your thoughts, Buddha emphasized two practices:
- Develop the Right Intention: Sometimes when we say something hurtful or make a mistake, we feel regret and carry a heavy heart. To avoid this sorrow, Buddha taught the importance of having the right intention. Before taking any action, ask yourself, "What is my intention? Am I trying to hurt or humiliate someone? Am I trying to elevate myself at someone else's expense?" By aligning your intentions with positive and kind thoughts, you can reduce negativity and avoid future regret.
- Practice Mindfulness: Mindfulness means observing your thoughts, emotions, and memories without judgment. It involves noticing the good and bad without reacting impulsively. The benefit of this practice is that it helps you stay free from negative thoughts and emotions. This is why Gautam Buddha said, "The one who sees themselves clearly is the greatest ascetic."
In conclusion, control your mind before it controls you. Your thoughts shape your destiny, so choose them wisely.