The story of the ascetic starts somewhere in India, in a place, far away.
In that city, there was an old monastery. In that monastery lived an ascetic. This ascetic was a learned person and used to give discourses and advise people. Over time, he had gained many devotees. They would come, visit him, listen to him and take his blessings. In return, they would give the ascetic expensive gifts. The ascetic would take the gifts and sell them off in the market. In return he would get money. By doing this, he ended up accumulating a lot of wealth. With wealth, came fear and distrust. He trusted no one and kept all his money in bags, and those bags he tied around himself.
His habits of moving around with money bags tied around him, were noticed by robbers. One robber made it his objective to rob the ascetic. He had a problem though. The walls of the monastery were very difficult to climb, and the gates were very high and next to impossible to climb and cross. He decided to please the ascetic with words and swindle him.
One day he went to the ascetic and asked him to become his guru. He used sweet words to please the ascetic. The ascetic, unaware of the swindler’s intentions, agreed.
The ascetic agreed on a condition that the disciple should not enter the monastery after sunset, but sleep outside. The robber agreed.
He served the ascetic while keeping a lookout for the money bags. He noticed that the ascetic always tied the money bags around himself and wondered how to gain the guru’s trust.
One day the ascetic was invited to preside over a thread ceremony at a disciple’s house. The ascetic left for that, and the swindler also left with him. On the way, passing a river, the ascetic decided to relieve himself. He took the money bags and his robes and handed them to the robber, asking him to guard them. Then, he left to answer the call of nature.
Seeing the opportunity, the robber fled as soon as the ascetic was out of sight.
While the ascetic was relieving himself, he saw two rams. They were fighting with each other, ramming their heads until their heads bled. The smell of blood brought a jackal there. It tried to get closer to the rams. Unfortunately, it got caught between the two fighting rams and met his end.
Seeing this happen in front of his eyes, shocked the ascetic. He quickly finished his business and came back to see his money bags missing. Only his robes were lying there. He tried to search for the swindler but no luck. Sad and unhappy, he returned back to the monastery.
Ending the story the jackal, who has started telling the story said – Like the ascetic was responsible for his actions, you too are to blame for creating this situation.
His brother said - Do not worry. I made the lion and bullock become friends. I will also break their friendship. Not by force, but by using my cunning. Like the crow killed a cobra using a golden chain.
How was it - asked his brother?
The story is about mis-placed trust and the consequences of actions.
The robber’s methods show how flattery can be used to exploit weaknesses (the ascetic’s desire for praise).
The ascetic was so consumed by his physical attachment that he failed to exercise due diligence in evaluating the character and intentions of his new “disciple.” He was too trusting in the wrong area.
Rational thought vanishes when one is scared. The ascetic’s fear of losing his wealth clouded his judgment, leading him to hand them over to the person he should have been wary of.
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