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Humbleness
senior mother-in-law. After the latter finished the food, instead of discarding the earthen pieces the girl started cleaning them and stored them upstairs in a corner. Her mother-in-law once happened to go that side and was amazed to see those pieces. She kindly asked the girl, 'Dear, we have so many utensils of brass and bronze, why do you collect this garbage?'
The girl quietly replied, "Mom, when you grow old, I will have to serve you the food in earthenware; I am collecting them so that I have not to go to a potter for getting the same'. The mother-in-law learnt the lesson that if we do not treat others reverently, how can we expect to be treated reverently? She stopped treating her mother-inlaw with contempt and started behaving with her courteously and reverently.
We are now noticing the loss of discipline among the students. Everyone complains about it, but no one tries to figure out the reason. The fact is that we fail to inculcate modesty and reverence in our children. There was a time when parents used to inculcate such traits. The children were taught to treat the parents, teachers and other elders with a sense of divinity. As such, they held the parents and teachers in high regard. That condition no longer exists. When people happen to mention the teachers as dumb, senseless or good-for-nothing, how can we expect our children to show regard for them?
There is a scriptural story about humbleness relating to Lord Mahaveer's time. A boy named Falshäl had learnt three lessons from his parents, viz. give respect where due, be courteous, and perform the duty honestly and sincerely. He once went with his father to the village land-recorder. As his father bowed to the recorder, Falshäl made out that he must be superior to his father. He also bowed to the recorder and said that he was willing to be his assistant and learn his working. Since he did not ask for any salary, the recorder agreed to train him. As he found the boy very sincere and obedient, he was pleased to show him all the ins and outs of his work.
The recorder had once to go to the Revenue Secretary for paying
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