A merchant bearing fifty rolls of cotton goods on his shoulders stopped to rest from the heat of the day beneath a shelter where a large stone Buddha was standing. There he fell asleep, and when he awoke his goods had disappeared. He immediately reported the matter to the police.
A judge named O-oka opened court to investigate. “That stone Buddha must have stolen the goods,” concluded the judge. “He is supposed to care for the welfare of the people, but he has failed to perform his holy duty. Arrest him.”
The police arrested the stone Buddha and carried it into the court. A noisy crowd followed the statue, curious to learn what kind of sentence the judge was about to impose.
When O-oka appeared on the bench he rebuked the boisterous audience. “What right have you people to appear before the court laughing and joking in this manner? You are in contempt of court and subject to a fine and imprisonment.”
The people hastened to apologize. “I shall have to impose a fine on you,” said the judge, “but I will remit it provided each one of you brings one roll of cotton goods to the court within three days. Anyone failing to do this will be arrested.”
One of the rolls of cloth which the people brought was quickly recognized by the merchant as his own, and thus the thief was easily discovered. The merchant recovered his goods, and the cotton rolls were returned to the people.
-
The Clever Jester
Dhwani Shah, , Culture, Folk Tales, Wisdom Tales, 0
Once, a jester worked in a royal court. The king who ruled the kingdom respected the jester a lot....
-
First Meeting
Dhwani Shah, , Culture, Folk Tales, Akbar Birbal, 0
Emperor Akbar had a mobile court which one day found itself in a village in what is now Madhya...
-
The Cat and The Hens
Dhwani Shah, , Culture, Folk Tales, Wisdom Tales, 0
A cat had heard that all the hens in a chicken coop had fallen ill. He had been thinking...
-
The Same Neighbor
Dhwani Shah, , Culture, Master: Osho, Osho, Sufi Stories, 0
The Sufi fakir, Hassan, has written that, “One night I asked God, ‘Who is the most religious person in...
-
Yussouf
Dhwani Shah, , Culture, Folk Tales, 0
Yussouf was a sheik. He was sitting at the door of his dent in the desert. It was night....
-
Certain Synchronicity
Dhwani Shah, , Culture, 0
Be happy for this moment. This moment is your life. – Omar Khayyam Certain Synchronicity I am reminded...
-
Tenali Raman and the Three Dolls
Dhwani Shah, , Culture, Folk Tales, Tenali Raman, 0
The great king Krishna Deva Raya had a lot of wise ministers in his court. The wisest of them...
-
Don’t Judge
Dhwani Shah, , Culture, Folk Tales, Master: Osho, Zen Stories, Osho, Zen Masters, Zen Stories, 0
I have told you the story of a Zen master… A thief entered his house without knowing that it...
Categories
Recent Posts
On-sale Products
-
Child Development Program
$199.00Original price was: $199.00.$99.00Current price is: $99.00. -
Living with Purpose
$299.00Original price was: $299.00.$199.00Current price is: $199.00.