— And as for our business with the snakes, smashing their cave is an evil and bad deed that will only generate an evil response from them, — unexpectedly responded grandfather to his friends.
— Why is it evil? They started it and continue it! — protested Oscar.
— Yes, they started it and continue it, but that is their essence and nature — to sell evil, — sadly replied grandfather, — and the more we chase them, the more wicked deeds and actions they come up with. And they deceive us, disguising their dirty deeds as seemingly good ones. They are cunning and come up with new actions that we haven't done and don't know the consequences for our home of life. And it's hard to tell now where the good deeds end and the bad ones begin. And we, seeing a huge reward, eagerly take them on, hoping to quickly build our home of life! Evil begets only evil! — wisely said grandfather.
— Well, what can we do? Just sit and watch as they deceive us? — protested Oscar.
— Don't rush, Oscar, and I'll tell you what to do. The main thing is to listen and not to fly away to perform new feats… — grandfather said with a smile.
The secret of the rain is revealed
Grandfather settled himself comfortably in an armchair near the fireplace and continued his instructive speech, while the children listened with bated breath.
— By doing bad deeds and actions at the fair of life, we add even more evil to these bricks, filling them with new impurities. And then we carry them with us, building our house of life from them, — Grandpa began to explain, — but we are souls, heavenly creatures, and by nature, we are good and therefore, we detest evil. The magical rain and wind in our fairy-tale world, just like us heavenly creatures, also do not like any impurity and all that is bad. And seeing this on the walls of our houses and on our streets, they break down all that is bad and wash away all this impurity, sending it far away underground. And after the rain, our good heavenly sun shines brightly and rejoices in the cleanliness and absence of any impurity and evil.
— Well, now I understand why my house became leaky after every rain, — Oscar said, surprised but happy, — I did so many bad things at the fair and brought them in bricks to my house of life. Of course, they needed to be washed out of my house, I won't tolerate evil in my home! Rain, rain, thank you for this! — Oscar exclaimed joyfully, raising his hands to the sky.
— So, it turns out, — began Mickey, — that after the rain, those who did good deeds continue to live happily in their strong and warm house of life, while those souls who did bad deeds start all over again, or patch up the holes in their flimsy house of life. And so, it goes on and on, until they understand what deeds they can do at the fair of life, and which ones to avoid and not do… — wisely concluded Mickey.
— Exactly, Mickey, that's right. And then, the rain washes away this impurity from the bricks underground, deeper and out of sight, — continued Grandpa, but he was interrupted by Oscar.
— Hooray! I figured it out! — exclaimed Oscar, — in the rainwater that collects through the pipes underground in the snake cave, there's impurity and evil from the destroyed bricks. They collect them after the rain and make their own bricks from them! And then they pay us with these bricks for bad deeds, and after the rain, everything returns to them in the cave. Those sneaky snakes! They tempt us with quick building of the house of life, and we ourselves are happy to be tempted! — excitedly concluded Oscar.
— Indeed, Oscar, you are right, — said the grandfather, — and over time we become more and more accustomed to quick results, even if they are temporary. And we can't stop because we can always quickly patch up holes or rebuild a destroyed house! And this illusion of wealth and success does not allow us to embark on the right path of good deeds and build an eternal, reliable house of life. And we rush towards bad things, but end up spending even more time in our lives instead of resting and giving each other joy, all because of our impatience.
The most important law at the fair of life
Friends pondered and didn't know what to say. But it was not in their nature to be sad. They needed to come up with something urgently and find a formula for a happy and joyful life, even if the snakes would interfere by offering to do bad things and deeds.
— Well, what can we do now if we can't drive away the snakes? — asked Oscar, looking hopefully at his grandfather.
— It's simple, Oscar, just don't do bad things and deeds, but do good ones, — the grandfather said with a smile, — And your house of life will be strong and warm.
— But how? Snakes will mix their deeds with good ones, so how can we distinguish good deeds from bad ones? I don't know how to tell them apart, for me all deeds are the same. I don't want to keep patching up holes in my own house all the time! What should we do? — said Oscar.
— A good question, grandpa replied, — but before I answer it, let me ask you a question in return: would you like to experience the things you do to others on the fair of life, on yourself?
— Some things yes, and some things no, — Oscar grinned, — I don't want to be deceived, made fun of, or fight over petty things. I want people to help me in my troubles and hardships, and to make peace with me!
— Then why, Oscar, do you do to others what you don't want done to yourself, in your deeds and actions on the fair of life? — Grandpa asked sternly.
— I don't know, — Oscar murmured shamefully… — I just want to quickly build my house of life and show off to my friends. I don't realize that it's not me who experiences the bad consequences of my actions, and I don't think that I shouldn't do it.
— I don't blame you, Oscar, — Grandpa continued, — unfortunately, experience comes with time, but time and bad deeds cannot be undone. However, our wise ancestors long ago found the main law of the fair of life, and it sounds like this:
«Do unto others only what you wish done unto yourself».
— Interesting law, I like it, — said Mickey with a smile.
— This law can also be stated differently, — continued grandfather, — «Do not do unto others what you do not wish done unto yourself». It's important for you, my children, to understand it and remember it in both forms, as the meaning is the same.
— So, from this rule, it follows that we should only do good deeds? We only want good things for ourselves and not bad! — exclaimed Oscar in surprise.
— Yes, that's correct, — agreed grandfather, — but also remember something important. After doing a good deed for someone else, don't expect them to do the same for you in return. They may not have the time or ability to do so. And sometimes, even we ourselves may forget to respond with kindness or get caught up in the busyness of life. But by setting a good example, it will stay in their memory and bring kindness back into our magical world, returning to all of us with happiness and love.
— Do unto others only what you would have done unto you, — said Mickey with a smile.
— Well done, Mickey, — replied Grandpa, — this law is the most important one at the fair of life, and if you adhere to it in choosing your actions and deeds, then the bricks of your life's house will be as strong as stone and hold warmth and comfort for all eternity. Oscar, you yourself said that you only desire good things for yourself. By doing good deeds at the fair of life, you receive good in return — strong and durable bricks from Sunny Street for your life's little home, — Grandpa wisely spoke.
How to distinguish bad deeds from good ones?