A Thought

Translated by Dhammacaro

It was said, “Those, who are happy with future’s thoughts, reach the trouble like a Brahmin made a pot broken.” This is the story: there was a Brahmin named Devasavaraman who lived in Devikota city. When Songkran took place, he got a plate of Satu rice (it was a luxurious food at that time). When he got it, that day was very hot so he dropped at the pottery shop and put the Satu down. Before eating, he thought, “If I sell this Satu dish, I can get ten Bia (currency). Then I can buy the pots for sale and make some profit. And then I will buy some cloths and do more investments. When I get more and more money, I will have four wives, and I will love my youngest one of them all. When some other wives envy with her, I will be angry with them and cannot stand it at last I will hit them by the stick.”

When he thought like that, he grasped the stick and hit the dish of Satu broken and broke many pots in the shop. The shop’s owner learned that his pots were broken by a Brahmin so he came and said, “I will fine you the money for breaking my pots.” He said, “I don’t have any money. May I do some work for you?” “OK, you help work in my pottery factory for one year”, the shop’s owner said. He had to agree with him because he had no money to pay for what he did.

So it was said earlier that a person should not be happy with the next thought he would face trouble. It is clear illustrated by the story above.