The woman bought a parrot but returned it the next day because it did not talk. The pet store owner suggested adding a mirror, ladder, and swing to the parrot's cage to encourage it to talk. The woman bought these items on the owner's recommendation. When she returned the next day to say the parrot had died, the parrot's last words were asking if the store sold any food. This highlights that the woman forgot the parrot's most basic need of being fed while focusing on accessories. The story emphasizes the importance of prioritizing essentials over non-essentials and not losing sight of the main things in life.

1. Story To Reflect
Upon 11
A woman bought a parrot to keep her company but returned it the next
day.
"This bird doesn't talk," she told the owner.
"Does he have a mirror in his cage?" he asked. "Parrots love mirrors.
They see their reflection and start a conversation."
The woman bought a mirror and left.
The next day she returned; the bird still wasn't talking.
"How about a ladder? Parrots love ladders. A happy parrot is a talkative
parrot."
The woman bought a ladder and left.
But the next day, she was back. "Does your parrot have a swing? No?
Well, that's the problem. Once he starts swinging, he'll talk up a storm."
The woman reluctantly bought a swing and left.
When she walked into the store the next day, her countenance had
changed.
"The parrot died," she said.
The pet store owner was shocked. "I'm so sorry. Tell me, did he ever
say a word?" he asked.
"Yes, right before he died," the woman replied. "In a weak voice, he
asked me, 'Don't they sell any food at that pet store?'"
Reflection
Sometimes people forget the main thing. Do you know what your real
priorities in life are?
~ Author Unknown ~

2. STORY TO
REFLECT
UPON 12
Are you doing Something?
A man distraught by all the pain and suffering he saw all
around him broke down and banged his fists into the dirt.
His head turned upward and he yelled at his God.
"Look at this mess. Look at all this pain and suffering.
Look at all this killing and hate.
God. Oh God!
WHY DON'T YOU DO SOMETHING!!"
And his God spoke to him and said
"I did. I sent you."
Reflection
* As long as we are in this Samsaric world ( the cycle
of conditioned existence ... birth, suffering, ageing.
death, rebirth ...), we have to face the 8 worldly
conditions of happiness & sorrow, gain & loss, praise
& blame, honour & dishonour . That's the Way things
are.
* Instead of always complaining, blaming and being
negative about the way things sometimes go, why
don't we chart our lives as follows :
# Develop our minds to get rid of greed, anger, hatred,
and
delusion. We will then attain peace and freedom of the
mind.
# Go forth and do something to relieve the suffering of
the less fortunate.
# Do something to make our Earth a better place
to live in.