Blossoms of Influence

A monk was going for a walk with his disciples. On the way, he was explaining to them about importance of keeping good company to his disciples. Monk saw that the disciples were not able to understand it.

On the way, he saw a rose plant full of flowers. Seeing it, he asked a disciple to immediately pick a lump of earth (soil) from under that plant.

When the disciple bought that lump of soil, the monk said, "Smell it." He smelled it and said, "The fragrance of rose is coming from it." Then the monk said, "Do you know why this soil smells like a rose?" He asked, "Why?"

Monk replied, "It is because rose flowers kept falling on this soil and hence the smell of rose started coming from the soil too. This is the effect of the company. Just due to the company of rose petals, the smell of roses has started coming from this soil. Similarly, a person acquires similar qualities and defects according to the company he keeps."

Flash: As they strolled along, a monk instructed his disciples on the significance of good company. To illustrate his point, he directed one of them to collect a lump of earth from beneath a blooming rose plant. Inhaling its fragrance, the disciple marveled. The monk explained: "Just as this soil bears the scent of roses from their companionship, so too do we acquire qualities from those we surround ourselves with." And in that simple lesson, the disciples grasped the profound impact of their associations on their own character.

Moral: The company we keep influences our character and behavior. Just as the soil absorbed the fragrance of the roses due to their proximity, people absorb the qualities and traits of those they surround themselves with. Therefore, it's important to choose our companions wisely, as they play a significant role in shaping who we are.

"Character is a reflection of the company we keep."