Greed Is Fatal

Written by Dhammacaro

Greed is one of the most fatal enemies to living beings. It is like an illness that exists within us. If we are careless, it will grow and grow and eventually consume them. For more understanding, I have a story to share with you all. Here is the story:

There once lived a millionaire, who wanted to sell his large land. His offer was that if the buyer were to pay 1000 pounds for the land, they would be entitled to the amount of land that they could cover on a day. The only condition was that the buyer had to return to the starting point before sunset. If he could not come back to the starting point in time, he would not have the land and at the same time, loose the money.

One greedy man, after hearing the offer, was interested in the idea and wanted to attempt the challenge. So he approached the millionaire and paid him the money. He went to the starting point and began to walk, as fast as he could, with the intentions to cover as much land as possible. He walked further and further afield without stopping for breaks. He was so intent with covering as much land as possible that he forgot to take note of the sun. Noon arrived and he still didn’t stop. He continues to walk further and further. Once he realized that the sun was setting, he began to panic and quickly ran back to the starting point. He quickened his pace as he went, ran with all his might. Luckily he just managed to reach the starting point just as the sun was setting.

But all was in vain. The man was so out of breath, he collapsed and died on the spot. When the millionaire saw what had happened, out of compassion, he ordered his men to burry the body in the field and said "You see how greedy this man is? After all that effort, the only land that he got was only the size big enough to cover his own grave."

So you see!.greed can be fatal. It is not only just in stories, but in real life. If we are not mindful, greed will eat us alive. We must learn to be mindful of it, know its cause and cut it from the beginning and not allow it to grow and consume us. The more mindful we are, the less greedy the mind will be.

Greed is fatal, so don’t let it grow in you.