A Big Elephant and A Thin Rope

1. A father accompanied with a small child to visit a zoo. The small child stared at a gigantic elephant for a long time. He wondered and asked his father, “Father, look at the thin rope which tied the elephant.” “Yes, what’s the problem?”

2. “The elephant does not struggle at all. It’s only a thin rope. Is it strange?” the small child wondered. “Only a small pull, the big elephant can get herself free from the fetter of the rope.” He continued.

3. “Ah, ……! That’s because…” the father did not know why.

4. Here came the zoo keeper. He heard the child’s question and explained to them. “A few years ago, the elephant was small and we tied her with a rope. We controlled the area of her movement. She did struggle a lot at first, but she failed to get free. Now, she grows up to be a big elephant. Although, she becomes bigger and stronger, she struggles no more.”


5. The philosophy of the story:
“Unsuccessful Experince” will make one lose his confidence. It will hinder a learner to try or keep on trying to solve his/her problem just like the constraint of the elephant.

“Successful Experience” is vital in the process of learning. It encourages the leaner to proceed further and accept further challenges. And most of all enjoy the sense of achievement in learning.

WHO IS SILLIER ?

1. In a large company, there were many departments, and among them there were 2 department heads that claimed they each had a stupid attendant.

2. One day, both of them were chatting in the common room. They shared their joy and wisdom. They discussed and commented on the results of last night’s soccer matches.

3. Suddenly, Head A sighed, “Let me tell you a secret. I got a stupid attendant.” “How silly is he?” asked Head B. “Come to my office now, and let me show you how!” moaned Head A.

4. As soon as attendant a came in, Head A asked him going to the Immigration Department and checked the identity of his mother. “Go, check and confirm whether your mother is a female or not!” Head A demanded. “Yes sir, I’ll go and check it right now!” attendant A replied without any hesitation. The attendant dashed out in a smoke of air. Both heads laughed deadly.

5. “My attendant is even sillier than yours! He is the silliest animal you have never seen!” exclaimed Head B. “Let me ask him to come in and you will know the why!” Head B continued.

6. “Now you go home and check whether you are still at home or not!” Head B ordered. “Yes sir, I am going at once.” Answered attendant B. He lost is sign in a second. “You see, who is sillier?” giggled Head B.

7. Both of them burst out into laughter for a long time.

8. Moments later, attendant A and B met at the lobby near the lifts. They told each other what had happened a few minutes ago. Then, attendant A suggested, “Shall we go to a coffee shop and wait until 4:45pm, and then we will return to the office and tell the answers which they wanted to know.” “That’s a splendid idea! By the way, have you brought a magazine, newspaper or things like that?” Attendant B added. ……

NOTHING IS PERFECT

1. Many years ago, a father and a son were on their way to town with their donkey.

2. The town was far from where they lived. In the middle of their journey, a girl laughed at them and said scornfully, “How stupid they are! Why don’t they ride on the donkey?” Then, the father asked his son to get on the donkey. They continued their journey.

3. A few hours later, they met a woman. The woman criticized the son and said, “That boy son doesn’t respect his father at all!” So, the father asked his son to get down immediately, and he jumped up on the back of the animal.

4. Then, a young man came across and said, “The father doesn’t love his son. The son was too young and too tired for the long journey.” Again, without any hesitation, he called his son to ride on the donkey with him together. “What a perfect arrangement!” the father said.

5. It is said, “Nothing is perfect.” On their way, they met another cynical old man. “Poor donkey! You are so skinny. It is too much for you to carry two persons,” the old man said sympathetically. “What should we do?” the father yelled.

6. As a result, the father made up his mind not to ride on the donkey anymore. They tied up the donkey to be them. With all their strength and might, they carried the heavy animal with a rod. They were crossing a bridge. Feeling not comfortable, the donkey struggled. And accidentally, the poor donkey toppled and felt down into the river and was drowned.
The philosophy of this story: There is always room for improvement. Don’t be a foolish follower. We need to have the abilities of thinking, analyzing and determining. Remember: Nothing is perfect.

SAY “THANK YOU”

1. There was a rapid and howling stream. People could hardly get across of it easily.
2. One day, a businessman stood in front of it and found himself quite helpless. A strong and kind-hearted man lived nearly this stream. He came over and put the businessman on his shoulder. Finally, he helped the businessman getting to the other side of the stream.
3. The businessman forgot to bring his purse and so he could not pay the kind-hearted man any money. He thought for a little while and wanted to say sorry. Almost at the same time, the kind-hearted man returned to the other side of the stream.
4. The kind-hearted man continued to carry a woman crossing the stream. The businessman went to the kind-hearted man and said, “Now, I think I don’t have to thank you. According to my observation, you like to kelp people because you are addicted to it.”
5. A few days later, the businessman came back to the same stream. This time, no one helped him to get across the stream.
6. The philosophy of the story: Don’t take it for granted that people like to help you. It is not inevitable. We ought to learn to say “Thank you!”

THE REPRESENTATIVE OF GOD

1. Many years ago, there was an old and poor couple. They could hardly earn their living, and they almost starved to death in one or two times.
2. One day, the old man said to his wife, “Mary, we need to write a letter to God and ask for help.”
3. They got everything ready.
4. “How do we post this letter?” the old man asked this question doubtfully. “God is all mighty,” his wife answered respectfully. With trust, respect and determination, they threw the letter out of the window.
5. Incidentally, a good-hearted rich man took a walk near by the house. He picked up the letter and read it. He was touched. He decided to give them a hand.
6. “Who’s it?” the old man heard somebody knocking at the door. “Is Mr. Smith at home?” the rich man asked. “It’s me,” the old man opened the door and replied. The rich man wore a smile on his face and said, “Marvelous! I want to tell you a piece of good news. A few minutes earlier, God received your letter. I am one of His representatives. Here you are, 1,000 pounds! God sent me here to give them to you.”
7. “Mary, it’s not a dream, is it? God received our letter!” the old man exclaimed.
8. The rich man put down the money. The poor couple said thanks and thanks to the gentleman, the representative of God. The rich man left.
9. All of a sudden, the old man asked a question. “The representative of God, …… Is he honest?” “What do you mean?” asked his wife. “I think God had given him 2,000 pounds. The liar took away 1,000 pounds as his commission.” the old man said.
10. Discussion: If you were the old man, after getting the money, what would you think and what would you do?

POSITIVE THINKING

1. Somewhere in South Africa, there was a dangerous forest, which we could find a lot of wild and fierce animals.
2. One day, a man took a walk in a forest. All of a sudden, he met a hungry tiger. The tiger stared at him and roared. He turned his back on the tiger and ran for his life. He ran as fast as his legs could carry him until he came to the edge of a cliff.
3. He stood in front of the cliff and thought: “There are only two choices. Either being eaten by the tiger or jumping down the cliff. I might have a narrow chance of living if I jumped.”
4. He jumped. Miraculously, he got landed on the branches of a tree, which was growing, by the wall of the cliff. There were many beautiful apples. Meanwhile, he found a howling lion at the bottom of the cliff. He was shocked. “Being eaten by the tiger or the lion was somewhat the same.” He thought. He was at ease now.
5. No sooner had he put down the stone from his heart, he noticed a mouse biting the tree. “Falling down to death is better then torn to pieces by the lion.” He thought. He was more at ease again.
6. Wanting more relief, he started to pick an apple from the tree and eat. It was so juicy and sweet that he had never tasted before. He was glad. He then lay down on the branches of the tree. “Sooner or later I will die. Why not have a good sleep first!”
7. Next morning, he woke up. He found neither a mouse, nor a tiger, nor a lion. Carefully he climbed up the cliff. He made a narrow escape.
8. Why?
9. The fact was: Before he fell asleep, the mouse heard the roaring sound and escaped. The tiger jumped down the cliff and fought fiercely with the lion. Both of them got seriously wounded and went away.
10. The philosophy of the story: Positive thinking. Sometimes, in our lives, we might come across some difficulties or dangers or whatsoever. We have to face them. Why not think positively! Just stop worrying and start living.

TARGET

1. There was a father who accompanied with his three sons to a forest for hunting. Here they were in the forest.
2. “What did you see?” the father asked the eldest son. “I saw a rifle, a prey and a great many of trees,” the eldest son answered at once. “Not exactly,” the father said.
3. He then asked the second son the same question. “I saw you father, my elder brother, my younger brother, a rifle, a prey and many tress,” the second son replied without any hesitation. “No,” he disagreed.
4. He asked the younger son the same question. “I saw a prey only!” the younger son said, “That’s it!” he was delighted with joy and said.
5. The philosophy of this story: We must have a clear target on whatever thing we are doing. As soon as the target is locked on, we should go for it with all our might.