The Wheel of Greed

There were four friends in a village. They used to play and make mischiefs together. All the four were very ambitious and wanted to earn a lot of money to lead a comfortable life. They decided that somehow they will earn plenty of money and for that even if they have to go far away, they would go but they would see to it that they succeed.

One day, they decided to go out of their village. They packed necessary things for the journey. They tried to make consensus as to which direction they should move. But due to varying views, they could not make up their mind. Finally they decided to consult the astrologer in the village. The astrologer after reading their palms assured them that their stars are very bright. Soon they are going to get buried treasures. They enquired, ‘In which direction should we go?’ The Astrologer advised them to go towards the west. He also gave them an instrument, a sort of mettle detector and instructed them that wherever they get signals from the instrument, they shold dig the ground. They also carried some portable digging tools and moved towards the west.

After covering a long distance towards the West, they saw a hill. Step by step they climbed the hill. They were very closely observing and looking towards the instrument for signals. After covering some distance, they heard the signal from the instrument. They became alert. They moved the instrument on the ground to ensure the exact place. They then dug the place and found a pot full of copper coins. They were disappointed as they had expected much more. The amount was not enough to make them rich. Let us go up and try our luck farther. But one of the friends said, no I don’t want to go up. For me this is enough. I will do some business with the money. If you do’t mind, I would like to go back. They said, alright if you don’t want more, you may return. But we will definitely try our luck farther. So one of the friends filled his bag with the copper coins and returned. The remaining three moved ahead.

After covering some more distance, the instrument again signaled. When they dug the place, they found a pot full of silver coins. Here also one of the friends suggested that they take the money and return. But two of the friends did not agree. They said, perhaps we may get more ahead. To-day our luck is favoring us. So the third friend filled his bag with siliver coins and returned. The remaining two friends moved ahead.

After covering some distance, the instrument signaled again. They were over joyed. On digging the ground, they found a pot full of golden coins. Here also one friend who was much tired, suggested to return. But one of them argued, the more we are going up, the precious treasures we are getting. I want to try my luck still farther. But the other friend did not agree and like the other two friends, he preferred to return with a bag full of golden coins. He handed over the instrument to the fourth friend and returned.

Now the fourth friend who was left all alone, moved ahead. He had reached almost at the top of the hill. There he witnessed a beautiful and very attractive scene. A person was sitting on a beautiful throne and over his head an illuminous wheel was rotating adding to his glory. He thought, the man must be the king of the land and he hoped to get lot of money from him. Slowly he went near the throne. The person sitting on the throne was much pleased to see him. He called him near and asked him the purpose of his visit. The fourth fried replied tht he wanted to earn lot of money. He asked, ‘Could you help me?’ The man replied, ‘Oh sure. If you wish you can even become the owner of this throne.’ The fourth friend enquired, ‘ How ?’ Just say that the wheel should come on your head. As soon as the fourth friend uttered the words, the wheel shifted from his head to the fourth friend’s head. He said thanks and added now the throne is yours. I am now leaving. The fourth friend said, wait I will accompany you. The man replied, No my friend, now it is not possible. The wheel which is rotating on your head will not allow you to leave his jurisdiction. This is the wheel of Greed. Unless and until someone greedier like you comes and wears this wheel on his head, you will remain its captive. I am grateful to you that you relieved me. I shall never become the victim of greed again.