An Indian man, visiting America for the first time, was invited to a friend's house. The friend and his wife welcomed their guest and provided him with everything he needed.
"Would you like a cup of tea or coffee?" the wife asked.
"Would you like a cup of tea or coffee?" the wife asked.
"Ah, yes! A cup of tea would be nice, thank you," he replied. And the woman hurried into the kitchen. A few minutes later she came back and said, "I forgot to ask you what kind of tea you wanted! Would you like tea with caffeine? We have English Breakfast tea and Earl Grey.
Or would you prefer herbal tea? How about Lemon Zinger, Misty Mango, Raspberry Ice or Apple Cinnamon? Or perhaps you'd care for a cup of green tea?"
The man, of course, had never heard of all these different types of tea. He didn't understand what the woman was talking about.
The man, of course, had never heard of all these different types of tea. He didn't understand what the woman was talking about.
Completely bewildered, he replied, "Uh, I think I'll just have a cup of normal, ordinary tea."
"Fine," said the woman. "I'll get it for you in a jiffy." And she returned to the kitchen. But she soon returned without the tea. "How foolish of me!" she said. "I forgot to ask if you
"Fine," said the woman. "I'll get it for you in a jiffy." And she returned to the kitchen. But she soon returned without the tea. "How foolish of me!" she said. "I forgot to ask if you
take sugar in your tea!" Do you want refined, white sugar, brown sugar, honey or artificial sweetener? We have two different types of artificial sweeteners for you to choose from." The poor man was beginning to lose his patience. He said, "I just want a cup of ordinary tea with
a little sugar!"
"Yes, of course!" she replied. "But do you want it black or with milk? We have milk powder, cream, half-and-half and low-fat milk. Then, of course, there's lactose-free soymilk and 'Rice Dream.' Please tell me, which do you prefer?"
"Yes, of course!" she replied. "But do you want it black or with milk? We have milk powder, cream, half-and-half and low-fat milk. Then, of course, there's lactose-free soymilk and 'Rice Dream.' Please tell me, which do you prefer?"
At this point, the man completely lost his patience. He said to his hostess, "All I wanted was a simple cup of tea! I never imagined it would entail so many questions! How ridiculous! Please do me a favour. Forget the tea, and just bring me a glass of water!"
The woman replied, "Okay, but will that be tap water, filtered water or bottled water? Or would you prefer sparkling mineral water?"
The man stormed into the kitchen and helped himself to a glass of water from the tap.
There are many ways to satisfy a small desire,
The man stormed into the kitchen and helped himself to a glass of water from the tap.
There are many ways to satisfy a small desire,
and the choices we have are increasing day by day. But when sorrows and difficulties arise in life, there is no choice, no escape and we have to bear them. It is in these situations that we are shown the importance of spirituality. If we have the right understanding,
We can overcome all suffering. Why did this suffering come to us? What is its source? Try to discover the root cause of all suffering. As long as we do not understand the cause of our suffering, we have no choice but to suffer.
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