This was during the Kamakura era (Kamakura era is the name of the period in the history of Japan, the end of the 12th - mid-14th centuries). One official was crossing the Nameri River one night, and his servant accidentally dropped ten mon into the water (Mon is a small coin, a penny).
The official immediately ordered to hire people, light torches and find all the money. A certain person, looking at this from the side, remarked:
- Sad about the ten monks, he buys torches and hires people. After all, it will cost much more than ten mon.
Hearing these words, the official said: “Yes, some people think so.” Many people are greedy in the name of saving money. But the money spent does not disappear: it continues to travel around the world. Another thing is the ten monas who drowned in the river: if we don’t pick them up now, they will be lost to the world forever.
This is what is called true savings!
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru