The mother fox warned her young one when it went in search
of food:
“Child, be careful when you eat the wild berries; they are
very tasty, but if you eat too many, you will get a stomach
ache.”
The cub shook its head in agreement and entered the forest.
As it walked along, it saw a tree with plenty of berries. Its
mouth watered with a desire to eat the berries scattered under
the tree. It remembered the mother’s warning.
There was a brief conflict in its mind – “ to eat or not to
eat?” The cub surrendered to the temptation, forgot every
thing else and began to gobble down the berries. It stopped
eating only when its tummy began to ache.
When the pain became unbearable, it regretted its action.
At home, the cub told the mother: “Mother, I promise;
hereafter I will never eat the wild berries.”

Next day, again, the cub went in search of food. It remembered
the forest with the fruit tree. It instructed its mind not to
think of that tree, but unconsciously its feet were drawn
towards the forest. The cub thought to itself:

“What is wrong if I go to the forest? I must not eat the berries.”
Inside the forest, the cub could not help looking at the tree
heavy with berries. Its mouth began to water.

“If I eat one or two berries nothing will happen.” The cub
comforted itself with this thought and began to eat the fruit
forgetting the horrible pain it had experienced the previous
day. Within seconds it was on the ground, rolling in pain.

Shall we apply this story to our lives?

We are like the fox cub . When elders advise us to give up
bad habits, we agree to do so. But, the temptation to enjoy
the pleasures makes us forget the bitter consequences. We
lose control and indulge in evil habits which destroy us.
Kalidasa, the ancient poet, says that a person whose mind is
not tempted by objects of desire is truly brave and heroic.

Shall we be heroic and conquer desires which lead us to
misery?

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