A rich man died leaving his two sons. For some time the two lived together in a joint family. One day they quarreled and decide to separate, dividing the property between them. They separated everything equally. After the settlement, a small packet was discovered, which their father had carefully hid. They opened the packet and found two rings, one valuable diamond and the other silver worth only a few rupees.
Seeing the diamond ring, the elder brother developed greed in his mind, and explained to the younger one, “To me it appears that this ring is not a earning of our father, but rather an heirloom from our grandfathers, that’s why he had kept it separate. Since it has been generation’s possessions, it should remain for future. So I being the elder brother shall keep the diamond ring and you better have the silver one. The younger brother smiled and said. “All right, be happy”. Both of them placed their rings on their fingers and went. On the way the younger brother thought to himself. “it is understandable that my father kept the diamond ring, it is so valuable, but why did he keep this silver ring?” he examined and found something engraved on it. It read, “This too will change.”
Both brothers faced ups and downs in life. When spring came, the elder brother losing his mind fell into deep depression, again losing his mental balance, he became tensed developing hypertension, and unable to sleep at night he started using sleeping pills, tranquilizers and stronger drugs. Finally, he reached the stage where he required electric shock treatment.
For the younger brother with the silver ring, when spring came he enjoyed it; he didn’t try to run away from the difficulties. He enjoyed it, but looked at the ring and remembered, “This toot will Change.” And when it changed, he could simply, smile and say, “Well, I knew it was going to Change.” It has changed, so what?? When autumn or winter came again he looked at his ring and remembered, “This too will Change.” He didn’t start crying, knowing that this would also change, and yes it changed, it passed away. Of all the ups and downs, vicissitudes of life, he knew that nothing is eternal, that everything comes just to pass away. He did not lose the balance of his mind and he lived a peaceful, happy life.
Infant, St.Thomas Mount
Chennai.