A wise sage once asked a rich man, "Why should you work?"
The rich man replied, "To progress"
"Why do you want to progress?" asked the sage.
"To get more money."
"Why do you want money?"
"To live a happy life."
"So does that mean money can buy you happiness?" the sage asked.
"Well, yes, it does."
The sage gave an inward frown and left. Later he met a middle class man, he asked him too, " Why should you work?"
"To get money," replied the middle class man.
Expecting the more direct answer, the sage asked, "Why do you want money?"
"So that I can fulfill my basic needs and have a happy life."
"So does money buy you happiness?"
"Hmmm.... I guess it does."
The sage was disturbed with the man's last answer. He proceeded further. The sage later came across a poor mill worker. He asked him the same too, "Why should you work?"
The mill worker replied, "To get money."
"Why do you want money?"
"To fulfill my family's basic needs."
"That's it? You don't want money to be happy?"
"Money doesn't buy me happiness. Having people who love me and who I love does. And fulfilling their needs is my happiness."
The sage felt satisfied with the mill worker's answer. He replied, "You are indeed a noble fellow. Love is an eternal creation of god, and provides happiness like no other. May God bless you." He blessed the man and left.
The rich man replied, "To progress"
"Why do you want to progress?" asked the sage.
"To get more money."
"Why do you want money?"
"To live a happy life."
"So does that mean money can buy you happiness?" the sage asked.
"Well, yes, it does."
The sage gave an inward frown and left. Later he met a middle class man, he asked him too, " Why should you work?"
"To get money," replied the middle class man.
Expecting the more direct answer, the sage asked, "Why do you want money?"
"So that I can fulfill my basic needs and have a happy life."
"So does money buy you happiness?"
"Hmmm.... I guess it does."
The sage was disturbed with the man's last answer. He proceeded further. The sage later came across a poor mill worker. He asked him the same too, "Why should you work?"
The mill worker replied, "To get money."
"Why do you want money?"
"To fulfill my family's basic needs."
"That's it? You don't want money to be happy?"
"Money doesn't buy me happiness. Having people who love me and who I love does. And fulfilling their needs is my happiness."
The sage felt satisfied with the mill worker's answer. He replied, "You are indeed a noble fellow. Love is an eternal creation of god, and provides happiness like no other. May God bless you." He blessed the man and left.
