Selfless Vs Selfish
Selfless and selfish are two contrasting terms that describe different ways of thinking, behaving, and relating to others.
Selfish Merchant and the Generous Villager
The Merchant’s Greed
In a small village, there lived a wealthy merchant who was known for his selfishness. He owned granaries full of grain and hoarded his wealth, refusing to share with the poor. One year, a severe drought struck the village, and the villagers were left without food. Desperate, they approached the merchant and pleaded, “Please sell us some of your grain at a reasonable price. Our children are starving.”
The merchant scoffed and said, “Why should I lower my prices? If you want grain, pay me double!”
The villagers, unable to pay, returned home empty-handed, their hopes shattered.
The Villager’s Selflessness
Meanwhile, in the same village, a humble farmer named Ramu had a small store of grain. Although he had little to spare, he opened his doors to the hungry. “Take what you need,” he said. “We are in this together.”
Word spread, and people from the village came to Ramu for help. Though his stock was small, Ramu prioritized feeding the children and the elderly. When his grain ran out, he started cooking communal meals using whatever he could gather from the forest.
The Consequences
Months later, the rains returned, and the harvest was plentiful again. The merchant, however, found himself isolated. The villagers refused to trade with him, remembering his greed during the drought. On the other hand, Ramu was celebrated. The entire village came together to help rebuild his farm, repaying his selflessness with gratitude.
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MORAL OF THE STORY
Selfishness isolates, while selflessness builds bonds: True wealth lies in sharing and supporting others.
Generosity comes back multiplied: Helping others creates goodwill and lasting relationships.
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The Selfish Tree and Giving Tree
The Selfish Tree
In a dense forest, there stood two trees side by side. One was a selfish tree with thick branches and abundant fruit, but it refused to let anyone pick its fruit. Birds, animals, and villagers often came to it for food or shelter, but the selfish tree would shake its branches to drive them away.
The Giving Tree
The other tree, though smaller, was generous. It allowed birds to nest in its branches and shared its fruit with anyone in need. Over time, animals and humans began to gather around it, making it the heart of the forest.
The Consequences
One day, a strong storm swept through the forest. The selfish tree, standing alone without the support of its community, was uprooted and fell. The giving tree, surrounded by birds, animals, and people who worked together to protect it, survived and flourished.
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MORAL OF THE STORY
Selfishness isolates, while generosity builds support: A community thrives on mutual care and kindness.
The more you give, the stronger you grow: Sharing your resources brings lasting fulfillment.
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Selfish Crow and the Pitcher​
In a scorching summer, a crow was flying in search of water. After a long search, it found a pitcher with water at the bottom. The crow tried to drink but couldn’t reach the water. It then remembered a trick: dropping stones into the pitcher to raise the water level.
The crow began collecting stones, but another thirsty bird arrived. The bird asked, “Can I help you so we can drink water together?”
The crow, suspicious and selfish, snapped, “No! I found the pitcher first, and I’ll solve this myself.”
The Consequences
The crow worked tirelessly, dropping stones one by one, but the water level rose very slowly. Meanwhile, the other bird flew away and found a nearby river. It called other birds, and they all drank happily.
The selfish crow, exhausted and dehydrated, eventually gave up. It had wasted all its energy trying to solve the problem alone when teamwork could have quenched its thirst much faster.
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MORAL OF THE STORY
Selfishness creates unnecessary struggles: Collaboration often leads to faster and better results.
Greed isolates you: By refusing help, you miss opportunities for mutual success.
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Buddha and the Beggar
The Generosity of the Poor Beggar
One day, a beggar came to hear Buddha’s teachings. After listening to Buddha speak about compassion and giving, the beggar approached him and said, “Master, I am poor and have nothing to give. How can I practice selflessness when I have nothing to offer?”
Buddha smiled and said, “Even the poorest can practice generosity. Giving is not only about material possessions—it is about intention and effort. For example, you can give a kind word, a helping hand, or even a smile.”
The beggar was inspired by these words and decided to share the little food he had with other beggars in the town. Over time, his selflessness inspired others, and the town became a more compassionate place.
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MORAL OF THE STORY
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True selflessness doesn’t require wealth: Even the smallest acts of kindness can make a difference.
Intention matters more than material offerings: The spirit of giving is more important than the size of the gift.
Compassion inspires change: One act of kindness can create a ripple effect in a community.
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The Selfless Soldier
The War and the Friendship
During a fierce battle, a soldier saw his best friend fall on the battlefield, injured and surrounded by enemy fire. He begged his captain, “Please let me go and bring him back.”
The captain replied, “It’s too dangerous! Your friend is likely dead, and you will only risk your own life for nothing.”
But the soldier couldn’t bear the thought of leaving his friend behind. Disobeying orders, he rushed into the battlefield. After a long struggle, he carried his friend back to the camp, bleeding and exhausted. Unfortunately, by the time they arrived, the friend had died.
The captain scolded him, saying, “I told you it was pointless! Now you’ve endangered yourself for no reason.”
The soldier, gasping for breath, replied, “It wasn’t pointless, sir. When I reached him, he was still alive, and his last words were, ‘I knew you’d come for me.’”
MORAL OF THE STORY
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Selflessness is about love, not logic: True friendship and compassion transcend rational calculations.
Small acts can mean the world: The soldier’s courage brought his friend comfort in his final moments.
Selflessness brings meaning to life: It’s the willingness to sacrifice for others that defines true humanity.
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