YOU CAN CONTROL YOUR MIND AFTER THIS | The monk and cat story | Buddhist story |

Summary

The video script narrates a parable about a great monk's last words to his successor, warning against allowing a 'cat' into one's life. The story unfolds to reveal the monk's past: he once lived in a bamboo cottage, and to keep rats away, he accepted a cat from villagers. This led to a series of events where he acquired a cow for milk and a widow to care for the cow. Eventually, he fell in love, had a child, and found himself back in the worldly life he had renounced. The 'cat' symbolizes the initial small indulgence that can lead to a cascade of attachments, illustrating the dangers of giving one's mind too much leverage, which can spiral into destructive habits and loss of spiritual focus.

Takeaways

• 🧘 The story revolves around a great monk's last words to his successor, warning against allowing a 'cat' into one's life, which symbolizes giving in to small temptations that can lead to larger consequences.
• 👤 The successor monk is puzzled by his master's last words, not understanding the significance of the 'cat' warning, highlighting the importance of understanding the deeper meaning behind advice.
• 👴 An old monk, who had closely observed the master's life, shares a long story to explain the origin of the 'cat' warning, showing the value of wisdom passed down through generations.
• 🏡 The master's initial renunciation led him to live a simple life near a village, where he faced the problem of rats chewing his clothes, illustrating the challenges of maintaining simplicity in life.
• 🐀 The villagers suggested keeping a cat to solve the rat problem, which seemed like a harmless solution at first, but set off a chain of events leading to more complex issues.
• 🍼 The cat needed to be fed, leading the monk to keep a cow for milk, which in turn required grazing land and care, demonstrating how one solution can lead to another problem.
• 🌾 The cow's care led to the introduction of a woman to the monk's life, who took care of the cow and grew crops, showing how dependency can grow from small beginnings.
• 💑 The monk and the woman fell in love and had a child, which made the monk realize how he had unknowingly recreated the worldly life he had renounced, emphasizing the subtle ways attachments can form.
• 🔄 The 'cat' symbolizes the initial small indulgence that led to a cycle of increasing attachments and responsibilities, cautioning against the slippery slope of giving in to temptations.
• 🚫 The moral of the story is a warning against giving leverage to the mind, as it can lead to a gradual loss of control and a return to the very things one sought to leave behind.
• 🌟 The story serves as a reminder to be vigilant about the choices we make, as they can have far-reaching effects on our lives and spiritual journey.

Q & A

What was the last statement made by the great monk on his deathbed?

The great monk's last statement was a warning to his successor to never allow a cat in his life.

Why was the successor monk surprised by the last words of his master?

The successor monk was surprised because he did not understand the connection between a cat and the spiritual life he was expected to lead.

What was the role of the old monk in the story?

The old monk was a close associate of the great monk and narrated the long story behind the last words to the young successor monk.

Why did the great monk initially go into the jungle and live near a small village?

The great monk renounced his wife, children, and home to live a spiritual life, and he chose to live near a village where he could beg for food.

How did the villagers help the monk when he faced trouble with rats chewing his clothes?

The villagers suggested that the monk keep a cat to keep the rats away, and they provided him with one.

What problem arose after the monk got the cat?

The problem was that the monk had to feed the cat, which required him to go to the village several times to beg for milk.

What solution did the villagers propose to the monk's problem of feeding the cat?

The villagers suggested that the monk keep a cow, which would provide enough milk for both him and the cat.

How did the monk's life change after he accepted the cow?

The monk's life became more complicated as he now had to ensure the cow was fed and cared for, which led to him accepting help from a widowed woman.

What significant event happened after the woman started living with the monk?

The woman became pregnant, and they had a child together, which made the monk realize that he had unintentionally recreated a worldly life.

What is the metaphorical meaning of the 'cat' in the story?

The 'cat' symbolizes the initial small indulgence or compromise that can lead to a series of events, ultimately pulling one back into the worldly life they sought to renounce.

What lesson does the story impart about human nature and habits?

The story teaches that one should not give their mind too much leverage, as it can lead to the adoption of bad habits or behaviors that can be difficult to break.

How does the story relate to common human experiences, such as trying drugs or eating junk food?

The story illustrates that small, seemingly harmless indulgences can lead to addiction and negative consequences, much like trying drugs or eating junk food can lead to unhealthy habits.