Three Jars
A monk invited two successful young individuals for a discussion. The monk presented three closed jars and instructed the first person to open all the jars and select one.
The first young person followed the monk's instructions and chose a jar. The second young person did the same.
The monk asked the first young person to reveal what he had picked. The young person replied that he chose the jar containing a chit that read "endless success." The second young person stated that he had picked a chit that said, "money and wealth."
The monk then took the third jar, which was empty, and asked the first young person why he didn’t choose the empty jar. The young person smiled and replied, "What is there to pick from an empty jar?" The second young person nodded in agreement.
The monk then asked, "Is continuous success possible without having an open mind?" The first young person responded, "No."
The monk continued, "Can you earn money and wealth without open-mindedness?" The young person answered, "No."
The monk explained, "The reason I invited you to our monastery is to help you realize that while many people achieve great success at a young age, it can be difficult to handle. Often, those who succeed become carried away by their achievements, developing pride and vanity. Over time, these individuals may vanish, as their egos prevent them from learning new lessons, accepting criticism, and considering new ideas. In essence, their minds become closed like the first two jars, where they only seek continual success or wealth. However, if they were like the third jar, they could become eternal sources of inspiration."
Both young individuals nodded their heads in acceptance and thanked the monk for helping them understand the power of an open mind.
M.L. Narendra Kumar
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