In a certain town, a cow was raised in a household. One day, the calf was very sad. He wasn't even showing enthusiasm in reaching his mother's breast to drink milk on time. Seeing her calf's condition, the cow asked, "Son, why are you so sad today? Why aren't you drinking milk with enthusiasm?"
The calf replied, "Mother! Look at that sheep. He's dark, smaller than me, and lazy; but the master's son loves him so much. He feeds him bread, green grass, feeds him peas with his own hands, and caresses him. The master's son has put bells on that sheep and oils its horns daily. On the other hand, no one cares about me, the unfortunate one. I'm not even given enough hay to eat. No one even gives me water on time. What's wrong with me? What crime have I committed?"
The cow said, "Son! Don't be unnecessarily sad. This world is such that even great happiness and honor are a matter of great fear. Behind the world's happiness and honor lie disease, sorrow, death, and downfall. Don't be greedy, and don't be saddened by the happiness and honor of others. They deserve compassion. Just as a dying patient is given whatever he wants, so too is this sheep. He is being nourished only to be killed. Our dry grass is good for us."
A few days passed. One evening, when the cow returned from grazing in the forest, she saw her calf trembling with fear. He wasn't running or speaking. He stood huddled against the wall. Even when I approached him, he made no attempt to drink milk. The cow licked him and asked, "Son! What's wrong with you today?"
The calf said, "Mother! I saw that sheep was first decorated and adorned with garlands of flowers; but then a man cut off its head. The poor thing could only scream once. It stamped its legs for a while. The killers tore its body to pieces. The sheep's blood is still there in the courtyard. I am very frightened by all this."
The cow, caressing the calf, said, "I told you before that you should be wary of worldly pleasures and honor. Disease, sorrow, downfall, and destruction follow them silently."
Three best lessons from the story
1. Worldly honors and pleasures can be deceptive and temporary.
2. Compassion for others should be tempered with wisdom about consequences.
3. Contentment with simple, steady nourishment is safer than craving admired but risky gains.
Three life-management tips from the story
1. Prioritize steady, reliable needs (health, food, shelter) over flashy gains.
2. Practice mindful gratitude for what you have to reduce envy and anxiety.
3. Evaluate the long-term risks behind attractive opportunities before pursuing them.
Three business-management tips from the story
1. Don’t chase superficial rewards (short-term praise or status) without assessing sustainability and risks.
2. Treat employees/partners genuinely rather than only decorating roles for appearances.
3. Build resilient, essential systems (stable supply, reliable processes) rather than transient promotions or gimmicks.
Three inspirational points
1. True well‑being often lies in modest, consistent care rather than grand displays.
2. Wisdom and foresight can protect you from painful outcomes others may not see.
3. Compassion combined with discernment is a higher form of care.
Three self-help tips from the story
1. When you feel envy, pause and examine the hidden costs behind others’ advantages.
2. Cultivate contentment practices (gratitude journaling, simple routines) to reduce longing.
3. Develop risk-awareness: list pros/cons and likely long-term outcomes before chasing prestige or status.
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