Mahatma
Gandhi, the Father of Nation, believed in simple living and high thinking. He
used to live with a very few things. Some of the things which he always kept
with him were – tin cup and spoon, a pair of sandals, his glasses and … a set
of “no evil monkeys”.
image courtesy: Google images
Gandhiji was the leader of the freedom movement of India.
Many people from all over the world used to visit him. He would often advise
them about something or the other.
One
day, a group of visitors came from Japan. “Gandhiji, we have brought you a
small gift,” they said. “It is no bigger than a child’s toys, but it is famous
in our country. “To Gandhiji’s delight, it was a set of three monkeys.
Gandhiji
asked them, “What do these three monkeys tell us?”
One of
the visitors said, “Gandhiji! The first monkey has its mouth covered with its
hands. It shows ‘speak no evil’.”
Another
visitor then spoke, “The second monkey has its eyes covered with its hands. It
shows ‘see no evil’.”
“The
third monkey has its ears covered with its hands. It shows ‘hear no evil’.”
Gandhiji
was very happy to learn about the three monkeys. He himself believed in truth
and non-violence. He said, “These monkeys are indeed one of the most valuable
gifts I have ever received. They actually teach us the truth of life.”
From
that day, Gandhiji kept the monkeys always with him. In one of the meetings, he
pointed out at the monkeys and said, “Each of these monkeys tells us how to
live our life properly. The first monkey tells us not to say anything harsh.
Never say anything bad to hurt your fellow beings. The second monkey tells
never to look for faults in others. And the third monkey tells us never to hear
any evil.
Speak
no evil, see no evil and hear no evil.
