Common Sense

Don't get destroyed by knowledge and power.

Use common sense to survive.

There were once four learned and accomplished men, who had acquired certain ‘Siddhis’ (miraculous powers). One day they said to themselves, "Of what use is all our knowledge and accomplishments if we do not seek the employment of a great king?" Accordingly, they set out for the capital.

Now among these four, three were particularly brilliant. The fourth was far inferior to the others in intellect, but he was the one with the most common sense.

On the road, they came upon the skeleton of a lion.

"Let us bring this lion back to life," proposed the first.

"Yes, this will bring us great fame," agreed the second and third.

The fourth one said, "If you bring this lion back to life, he will attack and devour all of us."

"Don't interrupt just because you don’t have the power to do this!" 

- cried the first, who had already used his superior knowledge to put flesh on the bones. The second quickly introduced blood, and the third was about to breathe life into the lion.

"We should think of our safety," said the fourth.

"Quiet!" shouted the third from the depths of his labor.

"Well, then, I shall go sit on this tree," said the fourth. "Just

in case."

The lion came back to life …. with an empty stomach. He looked around for food … killed the wise men and consumed them.

The only one who survived was the man with common sense.