Four Thieves and The Simpleton

Once there were four thieves who operated in a jungle. One early evening they saw a man carrying a lamb on his shoulder which was obviously meant for slaughter and subsequent cooking.

The four thieves passed a resolution (mataa) on how to separate the lamb from the man without violence. They spread themselves over the route the man was going to take.

When he reached the first thief, the latter said “What is this you are carrying on your shoulder sir. Aren’t you feeling embarrassed carrying this creature?” The man ignored him and carried on walking.

On reaching the second thief he was met with the same comments. Again he ignored him and carried on his way.

The third thief was more specific with his comments. He said “Shah ji (1) you should be ashamed of yourself, a man of your status carrying a dog on his shoulder” He was somewhat puzzled why the thief referred to the lamb as a dog but stubbornly carried on walking. However, doubt had started creeping into his mind having heard three persons ridiculing him.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/sakhis/27141-four-thieves-and-the-simpleton.html

When he reached the fourth thief he half expected similar remarks. He was right. The thief said “Shah ji, you are carrying a dog on your shoulders. This does not become you. A man of your status should consider his reputation; even I am embarrassed seeing you like this. Please throw away the dog.”

On hearing four persons saying the same thing the man lost all confidence in his own judgement and actually believed he was carrying a dog on his shoulders and finally threw it away. The four thieves regrouped and slaughtered the lamb. They cooked it and had a heartfelt meal at the cost of the simpleton.

MORAL: Self confidence and self-belief are very important; otherwise it is only too easy for people to collude and take undue advantage, as in the above account. This lack of confidence in our beliefs and values has plagued Sikhism for a very long time and it has never been such an acute problem as today with so much division and fragmentation within the Panth. May the Guru give us strength and resolve to regroup and fight our enemies both outside and within the fraternity. May the Living Light of SatGuru Granth Sahib penetrate our deluded minds into the depths of our souls!
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=27141

(1) The term ‘Shah ji’ denotes a man of substance i.e. of respectable status.

NOTE: The purpose of this story is to convey the message of ‘self belief’ and ‘self confidence’. The author does not, in any way, condone the killing of life for human consumption. This note is merely meant to make the author’s stand clear in this respect and must not be interpreted as taking a ‘holier than thou’ attitude, or to induce a discussion on meat v vegetarianism.

Copyright: Rajinder Singh ‘Arshi’

 
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Arshi ji, your parable truly sums up the present state of Sikhs... nobody could have summed up the situation better...

well once there was a pathan and a Punjabi the Punjabi was a conductor in a bus the pathan would get on the bus regularly and when the Punjabi conductor would ask for the ticket the pathan would reply "no ticket for pathan" this went on for some months since the pathan was well built and the Punjabi was tall but slim he feared him but after a few days the Punjabi build himself and asked for the ticket pathan replied "no ticket for pathan" but as soon as he realized the Punjabi was angry he replied "i have a passengers pass sir"
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=27141
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=27141

the moral is just check if there really is a problem and then look for a solution

I wonder how any ppl out there are stupid enough to confuse a lamb with a dog

That is exactly how many sakhis have been accepted as absolute truth by Sikhs when they never were real!

the same exact way in which many many people confuse a...human body full of filth and five vikaars maya etc..to be SANT...BRAHMGYANI..."same" as the ONLY SANT/BRAHMGYANI.....Guru GRANTH JI..and Matha Tek to the HUMAN BEING as Satguru..Guru..Sant..Brahmgyabi etc etc...

The other day i met an Englishman who is an IT Engineer with a PHd in Computer Science and he told me he firmly beleived Shivaji the Maharatta had a few aeroplanes fully equipped with heat seeking missiles by which he destroyed the Mughal Armies and thats why its Shivaji that frinally ended mughal rule in India and NOT Guru Gobind Singh or Banda Bahadur and the Sikhs as these only ahd the primitive swords, khandas and spears etc.......if this not confusing a lamb and a wolf..or dog and lion..i dont know ??