Wisdom

A mother brought her young son to Mahatma Gandhi.  Please, Gandhiji, she begged.  My son eats so much sugar.  I cannot get him to stop.  Please, tell my son to stop eating sugar.  Gandhi nodded.  The truly wise ones usually take a substantial pause before responding to go within for a reality check.  Then he said: OK, come back in a month.  And that was a solution? Because you have to listen to what you’re told when you ask Gandhi for advice, or so I imagine—it’s not like asking a question on a forum on Yahoo groups—the mother left with her son, a bit baffled. One month later she dragged him back in.  There was powdered sugar on the boy’s chin, frosting on the sleeve of his shirt, and chocolate stain near his belly button.  Clearly her techniques were ineffective—the boy was wearing his rebuff as a military decoration.  She stood the boy in front of Gandhi’s chair.  Gandhiji, she said, desperately.  I brought my son back, just like you told me to.  Please tell him to stop eating so much sugar.  Continue Reading …