Oscar and Mickey were very happy with the new interesting knowledge that helped them look at the meaning of actions and deeds in a new way, but they still had questions, and their heartfelt conversation with Grandpa continued.
— I understand, — Oscar said joyfully, — when I come to the fair of life, every action I want to take, I should first try it on myself. Do I want the same thing done to me? And if yes, then do the action or deed and receive good and sturdy bricks for it. My house will be strong, and no rain can destroy it. And if I don't want that action done to me — then don't do it. And so, we can distinguish between good and bad actions, and snakes won't be able to deceive us and slip in their rotten brick, right, Grandpa?
— Yes, my children, that's right, — said the satisfied grandfather, continuing, — for example, do you want to be deceived? No, then it's a bad action, and don't take it and don't deceive anyone. Do you want to be called names and insulted — no, then that's also a bad action, and don't do it, even if you really want to. And it doesn't matter who's on the other side of the action — a friend, a mother, or a kitten. You'll still get a bad brick for a bad deed! Even if you break a regular tree that did nothing to you and can't replace yourself, you'll still get a rotten brick from the snakes. That's the fair of life, my little ones — the deed you do, the brick you get.
— Well, well! — exclaimed Oscar joyfully and surprised, — and why didn't I know about this before! And «stealing a painting and giving it to a friend» is a bad action? But I'll make my friend happy!
— Put yourself in the shoes of the person whose painting was stolen, Oscar — would they feel bad? Indeed, they would, — said Grandpa, — now imagine you're in your friend's position when they find out the painting was stolen — wouldn't they feel bad and awkward? Of course, they would. And you would also feel bad when everything comes to light… that's a triple bad deed. That's how easily we realize that it's a bad action, by simply putting ourselves in other people's shoes and applying the rule of «do not do to others what you do not wish done to yourself». And there's no need to wonder if the theft will be uncovered or not — the bad deed is done, and you've received a rotten brick as a result! And even in a good barn, you can't hide from the rain that falls from heaven.
— Grandfather, and for what and how, can you still use the rule «do to others what you want to yourself»? Mickey asked.
— It's only half the job to determine what action is proposed for you in the fair of life, — replied Grandpa, — It's good if you make the right choice, but it's far more important to do the right thing well! And to do that, apply our rule in this way — «do unto others AS you would have them do unto you»!
— This means, — Mickey continued the conversation, — if I took the task «help a friend weed his garden» at the fair of life, should I do it as if it were my own garden? Is that right, Grandpa?
— Yes, Mickey, that's right. Imagine that it's your own garden and do it in such a way that the result pleases you too! Help and weed all the weeds very carefully, so that it becomes the most beautiful garden!
— With such an approach, it will be a doubly good deed! And they'll probably give us more good bricks, — Oscar wisely concluded.
— But the most important thing is not to forget that it's someone else's little garden! — Mickey joked with a laugh.
And laughing, they all laughed together at Mickey's joke, all together, and then decided to stretch a little, relax and think about what was said.
In my grandfather's wonderful garden
The kids were glad to hear what they heard, but they were thinking seriously! Therefore, Grandpa decided to cheer up and entertain the kids after a long instructive conversation.
— Kids, let's fly to my wonderful garden, I'll tell you the story of how I created it and see a lot of interesting things!
And all three of us, our fabulous souls flew to the big and beautiful grandfather's garden. On one side it was surrounded by a forest with majestic pines and beautiful birches. And on the other side of the garden, there was a clear blue lake, with a beautiful rocky bottom and a shore of the purest white sand. In the garden itself there were many fruit trees and beautiful and fragrant flowerbeds with magnificent flowers. Mickey and Oscar adored Grandpa's garden and loved to fly in it, have fun and splash in the clear lake.
— Wonderful garden, Grandpa! I really like it, and I'll make myself one too! — Mickey said enthusiastically, circling around the fragrant and useful juniper.
— Of course, we will, and I will help you, — Oscar picked up and picked a couple of ripe apples from his grandfather's favorite apple tree.
— Everything will work out for you, my children, and I will also help in any way I can — grandpa offered his help to Mickey and enjoying the beautiful flowers and the smell of roses, flew deep into the garden.
— Grandpa, tell me how you created such a beautiful garden, you probably have a talent! Mickey asked.
— I don't know, kids, whether I had a talent for beauty or gardening, but I remember for sure that I flew around my house in an empty field and didn't even know how and where apples and flowers come from, — grandfather laughed and continued, — but I definitely understood that I wanted a beautiful garden, and how I had no idea how to create it at all!
— Yes, grandfather, I'm just the same, every time after a rain or a hurricane, I circle around my ruins of the house of life, and I don't understand how to build it reliable! Oscar laughed.
— So, after asking the elders for advice, I started taking deeds and deeds about the garden and flower beds at the life fair. «To help my grandmother water flowers and trees», «weeding flower beds», «planting a tree» and many other interesting things I found at the fair on this topic, and took up their implementation, hoping to learn how to do everything myself and create my own magnificent garden.
— Did the snakes bother you, Grandpa? — Oscar asked.
— Even then I understood how to distinguish a good thing from a bad one and did not take cases like «trample the garden», «break a branch taking out an apple», «cheat that I watered the flowers, and fly away to play with friends myself»… I also saw all these bad deeds mixed up with good deeds and tried not to do them, as far as I had enough experience.
— Grandpa, what should I do if I realize that my action was bad, but I've already done it? — asked Oscar.
— Well, not always do we have time to think about our actions. Sometimes we act impulsively or hurry somewhere. It happens that we understand the consequences only when we see holes in our life's house or feel cold and dampness inside. But if we have done something wrong and then realized it, no matter how much time has passed, we should try to make it right. We should apologize for what we did, discuss it, make amends if we caused any losses, find a compromise, and try not to do it again, — replied the grandpa.
— And I didn't think about the garden near the house before, — said Mickey, — but when I accidentally took cases about the garden at the life fair, I liked it, and I got carried away, and now I often take them, and at the same time it helps me with my small but beautiful garden.
— Yes, Mickey, it happens that we do something, for example, at the request of our elders, and over time we get carried away and it becomes our hobby or life's work, but sometimes not, — grandpa replied and continued, — and so year after year, I learned a lot by doing things and deeds on the fair about the garden. Even when I opened my shop, I also started selling garden-themed cases and this helped me create my own magnificent garden. And now I often fly to the fair and do something interesting, and then I fly to my garden and repeat. And my garden is getting better and better every day.