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You can satisfy a need but not bottomless greed

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Happy employees. FILE PHOTO | NMG

Once a hunter went into a forest for hunting. There he caught a bird. The bird said to the hunter, “You must have eaten many big animals. How can the flesh of my little body satisfy you? If you let me go, I will give you three counsels, but there are three conditions.

First counsel I will give you while still in your hand. Second, when I am on the roof and Third from the top of a tree.” Bird continued, “When you have heard all three counsels you will consider yourself the most fortunate man.”

While sitting in the hunter’s hand bird said, “First counsel: Do not believe in foolish pronouncement of others.” Even after listening to this first counsel the hunter let the bird to the roof from where the bird said, “Second counsel: Have no regrets for what past is.”

After telling him the second counsel, the bird told him that its body contained a precious pearl weighing five ounce and it could be his but now that’s gone. Hearing this, the man began to bewail for the misfortune of losing the pearl.

Seeing this the bird asked him, “Why are you sad? Didn’t you listen when I said, ‘do not regret for past’. I also told you that do not believe in foolish pronouncement of others.”

When I said I have five-ounce pearl in my stomach, can’t you think that I myself weight two ounces then how could I possibly be having a pearl weighing five ounces inside me. Coming to his senses the hunter asked for the last counsel when the bird was at the top of a tree. Bird replied, “Seeing how you heed the first two, why should I waste third.” And flew away.

Greed is a bottomless pit which exhausts the person in an endless effort to satisfy the need without ever reaching satisfaction:

It is possible to satisfy need, but almost impossible to satisfy greed: Sometimes, we are so focused on what we want that we miss out on what we need.

A greedy mind always projects his happiness in the future: The greedy mind tries and chases the fancy but illusory happiness and is never satisfied as the greed looks ahead and can never enjoy the moment.

Greed has no boundaries: Wealth and fame are like sea-water. The more we drink, the thirstier we become, the more wealth and fame we have, the more we want of them.

When all we want is just more: The average man does not know what to do with this life yet wants one which will last forever.

Look for happiness in small things: Happiness doesn’t always come as a result of getting something we don't have, it comes when we recognize and appreciate what we do have.

Bharatam is the founder and Chief Mentor of Kuza Biashara Limited, a capacity-building organisation coaching youth and SME owners across Africa. He can be reached @Sbharatam or [email protected]