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KING OF THE SKIES
Once upon a time, there flew across the skies young eagle. In his talons, he firmly held a plump rat. He wanted to eat the rat all by himself and so tried to land in a solitary place. However, many of the larger birds began to hound him. They troubled him, tried to peck at him and snatch the rat away from him. The young eagle could have shared his find with some of the other birds but he would not. On and on he flew, chased and threatned by the other birds. Finally came in time when he was so exhausted that all this grabbing and holding did not seem worth it. He let go the rat. As it fell down, all the birds that were tormenting him changed course and plunged after the falling rat.
The young eagle looked around. Suddenly the sky was empty and he was free of all trouble. He enjoyed the quiet of the moment and said to himself, "I let go the rat of desire... to become the king of the skies!"
Children, all of us must work hard for the basic needs of living and to do our duties well. You parents work hard to provide for your needs and comforts and that is good. You too should work hard to do well in your studies so that, when you grow up, you can take good care of yourself and your family. But if we have too many desires then our lives become like that of the young eagle. The more we grab and hoard, the more worried we become of protecting it and the more fear we feel of losing it. So within limits, desires help us to work hard and progress in life. But, beyond a point, desires only bring us trouble and pain.
Like the young eagle, may we let go of our excess desires and experience the freedom from this, just like the feathered hero of our story.
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