$JES 203 First Step of Jainism Level 2 Book

Author(s): JAINA Education Committee
Publisher: JAINA Education Committee

Page 92

GREED/CONTENTMENT
The Greedy Spider
Long, long ago there was a spider that was very fond of eating. He ate so much that he was as round as a ball! One day he heard that Unokwa, the rabbit, was giving a feast. But nobody would tell him where the feast was. They were afraid that he would gobble up all the food and ruin this party as he had done with many other parties. Then the spider heard that Mimbakwa, the elephant, was giving an even bigger feast. The spider was very angry that he was not invited. Then he heard that Zingege, the goat, was giving one of her famous parties. Spider asked everyone but nobody would tell him where the parties were to take place.
At last spider called his three sons and he spun a long thread for each one and tied the thread around their waists. Then he tied the three threads to his large round body and said, "Each one of you go in a different direction. If you see a party, give a tug on the thread and I will come and join you." The three sons scurried away.
The first son went north and found the rabbit's party. He gave a tug on his thread. The second son found the elephant's party
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and gave a big tug. The spider could not decide where to go first. Just then the third son found the goat's party and he gave his thread a mighty tug. The spider mouth watered at the thought of going to all three parties. However, the three sons pulled him in three different directions. Pull! Pull! Pull!
The threads pulled tighter and tighter and the spider's waist grew smaller until the he fainted and fell.
When he woke up all three parties were over. The rabbit said, "You see Spider, you have missed all three parties because of your greed." Spider said, "I know. I will not be greedy again. I should not have wanted more and more." Since that day, the spider eats only enough to satisfy his hunger and is no longer greedy.
The opposite of greed is contentment. If the spider had been content with what he had he would not have wanted everything and the other animals would have invited him to their parties.
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