The Flea and the Elephant

 

I have posted below a light-hearted story about our position in the Universe. To read more light-hearted morality tales, please visit my website at this link here.

"A flea decided to move with his family into the ear of an elephant. So he shouted, "Mr. Elephant, Sir, my family and I plan to move into your ear. I think it only fair to give you a week to think the matter over and let me know if you have any objection?"

The Elephant, who was not even aware of the existence of the flea went his placid way so, after conscientiously waiting a week, the flea assumed the Elephant's consent and moved in. A month later Mrs. Flea decided the Elephant's ear was not a healthy place to live in and urged her husband to tell the Elephant that they were moving; in such way so as not to hurt the Elephant's feelings.

So, Mr. Flea put it to tactfully to the Elephant, "Sir, we plan to move to other quarters. This has nothing at all to do with you of course, because your ear is spacious and warm. It is just that my wife would rather live next door to her friends at the buffalo's foot. If you have any objection to our moving, do let me know in the course of the next week." The Elephant said nothing, so the flea changed residence with a clear conscience".

Moral of the Story: Relax—the Universe is not aware of your existence!

[Anthony De Mello]

Heaven—Tale about Loyalty

'. . . Once upon a time, a man, his horse and his dog were travelling along a road. As they passed by a huge tree, it was struck by lightning, and they all died. But the man failed to notice that he was no longer of this world and so he continued walking along with his two animal companions. 

. . . It was a long uphill walk, the sun was beating down on them and they were all sweating and thirsty. At a bend in the road they saw a magnificent marble gateway that led into a gold-paved square, in the centre of which was a fountain overflowing with crystal-clear water. The man went over to the guard at the entrance.

"Good morning."

"Good morning," the guard replied.

"What is this lovely place?"

"It’s Heaven."

"Well, I’m very glad to see it, because we’re very thirsty."

"You’re welcome to come in and drink all the water you want." And the guard indicated the fountain.

"My horse and dog are also thirsty."

"I’m terribly sorry," said the guard, "but animals are not allowed in here."

The man was deeply disappointed because he was very thirsty, but he was not prepared to drink alone, so he thanked the guard and went on his way. Exhausted after more drudging uphill they reached an old gateway that opened on to a dirt road flanked by trees. A man, his hat pulled down over his face, was stretched out in the shade of one of the trees, apparently asleep.

"Good morning," said the traveller.

The other man greeted him with a nod.

"We’re thirsty—me, my horse and my dog."

"There’s a spring over the amongst those rocks," the man indicating the spot. "You can drink all you want."

The man, his horse and his dog went to the spring and quenched their thirst.

The traveller returned to thank the man.

"Come back whenever you want," he was told.

"By the way, what’s this place called?"

"Heaven."

"Heaven? But the guard at the marble gateway told me that was heaven!"

"That’s not Heaven, that’s Hell."

The traveller was puzzled.

"You shouldn’t let others take your name in vain, you know! False information can lead to all kinds of confusion!"

"On the contrary, they do us a great favour, because the ones who stay there are those who have proved themselves capable of abandoning their dearest friends."'

[From "The Devil and Miss Prym," by Paulo Coelho]

For more such tales go to my Website at this link here