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    Long time ago there lived a lazy farmer in the countryside who wanted to become rich without any efforts. One day he learnt of a Mahatma (noble and learned person) who lived in the jungles and about whom it was famous that by visiting and praying to him one could fulfill his desires. So, he decided to visit him.

    The Mahatma after peacefully listening to the farmer agreed to fulfill his wishes. He assured, ‘I will give you a mantra that will make you rich.’ And soon he passed it on to the farmer.

    Who was now exuberant about the comforting thought, that without any efforts he will now become rich. But as he was about to leave, the Mahatma called him back and said, ‘Arrey, I forgot to tell you something important. The moment you start getting weary of monkeys this mantra will become ineffective, and then you will not get the fruits of it.’

    Upon hearing this, the farmer started laughing and said, ‘Mahatma ji, you just don’t worry, monkeys have never troubled me, neither in the fields nor in my thoughts. And, for a long time I have not even dreamt of a monkey.’ And, after replying to the Mahatma, the farmer quickly rushed to his house and started preparing for a ritualistic recital of the sacred mantra.

    But the moment he uttered the mantra he got terrified, because he thought of ‘monkey.’ Thereon, whenever, he uttered the mantra, he thought of monkey. And soon, every moment, the thought of monkey started troubling him. So much so that monkey even started coming in his dreams. And sadly by now, the thought of monkey had truly disturbed him, both while he was awake and also while he was asleep.

    After some days the farmer was quite terrified and saddened as the thought of monkey had almost plagued his mind. And, when he was unable to bear this he went running to the Mahatma and fell on his feet and started sobbing, ‘Mahatma ji, I am extremely distressed as I have lost my peace of mind. I have no desire of becoming rich and you please take your mantra back and save me from the thought of monkey.’

    This story is from an Indian Upanishad and reveals our mindset which like a monkey is never in our control. This story also conveys, goals are important but equally important is the means to get to your goal.

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By Kamlesh Tripathi

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Shravan Charity Mission is an NGO that works for poor children suffering from life threatening diseases. Should you wish to donate for the cause the bank details are given below:

NAME OF ACCOUNT: SHRAVAN CHARITY MISSION

Account no: 680510110004635 (BANK OF INDIA)

IFSC code: BKID0006805

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GLOOM BEHIND THE SMILE

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