There lived a poor man in one village, he was kind and helpful and firmly believed that only those who think and care about others are truly happy. And although nothing bad could be said about him, but on the contrary, he was worthy of all praise and respect, nevertheless his relatives considered him stupid and impractical. That's why they called him Maun Shwei.
[Sewing – gold (Burm.)]
One day Maun Shwei went to buy bamboo. He cut a whole armful and was already approaching the house when he met friends. They started a fuss, stole all the bamboo, and our good fellow had to go home empty-handed. However, Maun Shway was not at all upset and was even glad that he managed to have a little fun with his friends. The parents, having learned about this, were terribly upset.
“How stupid you are,” they began to scold Maun Seamstress. - What can I come up with to make you at least a little wiser! That's it. Go to the ascetic, maybe he will teach you something.
Maun Shvey went to the ascetic in the forest. He walked and walked and finally got tired. And then he decided to rest a little in the shade of a banyan tree. I made myself comfortable, closed my eyes and was just about ready to fall asleep, and lo and behold, a little birdie flew in.
- Human friend, where are you going? - asks.
Maun Shwei told him that he was going to learn wisdom from an ascetic. And the birdie listened to him and said:
- O friend-man, do not refuse my request - find out from the ascetic why I seem to be tied to this tree and cannot fly away from it anywhere.
“Okay,” agreed Maun Shwey and, saying goodbye to the little birdie, went on.
Whether Maun Shwei walked for a long time or for a short time, he just wanted to rest again. And then there was a gazebo nearby. Before he had time to settle down to rest, lo and behold, a rich man appeared, also deciding to rest in the gazebo. Little by little they started talking, and the rich man became curious about where Maun Shwei was going and why. And when he learned that Maun Shwei was heading to the learned ascetic, the rich man began to beg him:
– Ask the ascetic in more detail how I can heal from the disease that has been bothering me for many years in a row.
“Okay,” Maun Shway agreed and continued on his way.
He walked and walked and came to a wide river. He sat down on its steep bank and began to look thoughtfully at the water. Suddenly, out of nowhere, a crocodile appeared. Having learned that Maun Shwei was on his way to the learned ascetic, the crocodile prayed:
“Would you be kind enough to ask an ascetic how I can get rid of the headache that has been tormenting me all my life?”
Maun Shwei promised to fulfill his request. Finally, Maun Shwei reached the monastery of the learned ascetic.
-What brings you to me? – asks the ascetic Maun Seamstress.
– O wise old man, I came to you for advice. Far from these places, on a banyan tree there lives a small birdie that cannot fly anywhere, as if chained to a tree. What does she need to do to get rid of this obsession? And then the ascetic said:
“In a past life, this birdie had two pots: one with silver, the other with gold, which she buried under a banyan tree. Now she has to guard these pots. If she distributes the treasures to people, she will be freed from the evil force that chained her to the tree and will be able to fly freely wherever she pleases!
Maun Shwei thanked the ascetic for his wise advice and continued:
- Dear teacher! On the way here I met a rich man who had been suffering from a serious illness for many years. He asked me to find out how he could be cured of his illness.
The cause of the disease is his wealth. Once he gets rid of it at least partially, the disease will immediately go away!
He thanked the ascetic Maun Shwei and continued:
– And one more request to you, wise old man. There is a crocodile in the river not far from here. He asks you for advice on how to get rid of the headache that has tormented him all his life.
“This crocodile has a ruby stuck in his head.” If he takes it out of there and gives it to someone without any regret, then his headache will go away!
Maun Shwei was very happy. He said goodbye to the ascetic and hurried back. It was then that he remembered why his parents sent him to the ascetic. I remembered, but was not upset. The main thing is that he can help the birdie, the rich man and the crocodile.
Maun Shway walked and walked and came to the river where the crocodile lived. And he is already waiting for him. Maun Shwei told what the ascetic advised. The crocodile took the ruby out of his head, and the headache disappeared. To celebrate, the crocodile gave the ruby to Maun Seamstress. Maun Shwei found the rich man and taught him how to get rid of the disease. And finally Maun Shwei got to the banyan tree where the little bird lived, and told her about everything that he had learned from the ascetic. The little birdie immediately dug up the silver and gold from the ground and gave everything to Maun Seamstress. And immediately she felt free and able to fly in all four directions.
So caring for others turned out to be good for Maun Seamstress. Rich and happy, he returned to his native village and devoted his entire life to caring for his neighbors.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru