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Once upon a time in a small village there lived a proud learned man who would boast that he was very much in control of his desires.

One day a wise old man visited him and decided to test his will-power.

The wise old man gave him four candles and said,

"Burn one candle and go in one direction. When the candle goes out, dig the ground at that place. Be contented with whatever you find there: do not go in any other direction."

As he handed the man the candles, the wise old man continued,

"However if you decide to go in another direction, don't go in the third direction. Even if you have to go in the third direction, never go in the fourth direction."

So the learned man went out and burnt one candle.He walked in one direction.

When the candle went out, he dug the ground and found some silver coins.

He was not contented; even though the wise old man had told him not to go in another direction, he decided,

"If I have found silver coins in this place, let me go and see what is there in the next direction."

So he burnt another candle and went in the second direction. When the candle burnt out, he dug at that place and found some gold coins.

He became very happy and desire began growing within him for more treasure.

He thought, "That wise man told me not to come to this place because he knew that there was more valuable treasure here, and that's why he didn't want me to come and get it! Maybe he has kept even more valuable treasures in the third direction, so let me go and get that !"

The roots of desire were taking a strong hold of him.

So obeying his mind, he went in the third direction where he discovered some diamonds and gold nuggets.

He was extremely happy, and feeling prosperous, he thought,

"All right. Let me go and try in the fourth direction and I am sure there will be more valuables and great wealth over there."

By now he had collected silver and gold coins, diamonds and gold nuggets from the three directions. He was rich but not contented.

The roots of desire were getting stronger and stronger.

Desire is such a thing that if we have a hundred dollars, we want a thousand; if we have a thousand, we desire ten thousand. It goes on increasing and increasing.

Finally he decided to burn his fourth and last candle.

However he had forgotten that the wise old man had warned him that ,

"...even if you have to go in the third direction, never go in the fourth direction."

His desires drove him to the fourth direction and when the candle burnt out he dug at the ground there.

He kept digging for some time and finally he found an underground tunnel that led him to a house with only a door ; there were no windows.

When he entered the house he saw a woman standing there holding up the roof with her head. She looked very confused and tired.

The learned man walked up to her and said,

"My dear, please tell me, is there any treasure here in this house ?"

The woman replied, "Yes, there is a lot of wealth here, but i cannot tell you where it is hidden because I have this burden of the roof on my head. If you can help share this burden, that is, if you will come and take my place, then I will become free and I will be able to tell you where the treasure is hidden."

The man was more concerned in satisfying his desire for more wealth and did not realize that he was being fooled.

So he took the place of that woman, who had been standing there for ages.

When she became free, she said,

"Yes, there is a lot of wealth here in this house ; but you will get it only when somebody like you comes and takes this burden of holding the roof."

Desire is such a thing that it never comes to an end, it just goes on increasing and increasing ..... and what are the consequences ?

We end up being caught "holding the roof ".

It is the desires of man which keeps him forever a "pauper".

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