A FABLE FOR OUR TIMES
Some years ago, a young Dasturji, from a small town in Gujarat, accepted a posting to an Agiary in Mumbai.
Some weeks after he arrived, he travelled on a bus from his home to Chopati. When he sat down, he discovered that the conductor had accidentally given him 1 rupee too much change. As he considered what to do, he thought to himself, ‘You’d better give the rupee back. It would be wrong to keep it.’
Then he thought, ‘Oh, forget it, it’s only a rupee! Who would worry about this little amount? In any case, the bus company already makes too much profit from us hardworking people and its fares are too high. A rupee won’t be missed: I’ll just accept it as a ‘gift from God.’
When his stop came, he paused momentarily at the door. Despite his desire to keep the rupee, his conscience got the better of him and he handed the rupee to the conductor, saying, ‘Here, you gave me too much change.’
The conductor smiled broadly and said knowingly, ‘Aren’t you the new Parsi priest in our neighbourhood agyari?’
‘Yes’, he replied.
‘Well,’ said the conductor, ‘I’ve heard a lot of good things about Parsis. I just wanted to see what you would do if I gave you too much change.’
When the Dasturji stepped off of the bus, he was in a state of shock, and said, ‘Oh God, I almost sold my conscience for a Rupee!’
Our acts are the only Parsipanu some people will ever see. This is a good example of how much people watch us as Parsis, and will put us to the test! They don’t want us to fail – they hope we will come up to their high expectations. They want to tell their children that some people and communities do live up to high ideals. Don’t let them down. Don’t let yourself down. Always remember: you carry the good name of Parsis on your shoulders when you call yourself, ‘Parsi.’
Watch your thoughts; they become words.
Watch your words; they become actions.
Watch your actions; they become habits.
Watch your habits; they become character.
Watch your character; it becomes your destiny.
