Some time ago, a man named Rajesh worked in a reputed jewelry shop as a salesman. He worked diligently and honestly as a result the shop owner was quite happy with him. He never took a leave.

One day, he absented himself from the duty without informing the shop owner. This surprised him as Rajesh never absented himself.

Next day, when he came back on duty, the shop owner called him to himself and asked, “Rajesh, why did you absent yourself without my permission?”

He replied him respectfully, “Sir, I did so because I was blessed with a baby son.” Thinking that he would need more money for the expenditure of the new comer, the owner raised his yearly salary. Rajesh wasn’t happy showing no reaction to it but continued working as usual.

This went on for some months. Then, all of a sudden, he absented himself without informing the shop owner, who was very angry with him. So, when he returned the next day, the owner asked him, “What was the reason that he absented himself without my permission?”

Rajesh humbly told him that his mother had died. But the shop owner decided to decrease his monthly salary, since this would make him understand that he had to take his permission before absenting himself.

Rajesh wasn’t surprised when he got his decreased salary. On the other hand, he didn’t complain to the shop owner but instead kept working with the same enthusiasm.

This astonished the shop owner, who couldn’t resist asking him, “Rajesh, when I raised your salary on the birth of your son, you didn’t show any reaction and kept working enthusiastically. And, on the other hand, I decreased your salary when you absented yourself without my permission. Even then you didn’t show any reaction and kept working with the same enthusiasm as before. What is the reason?”

Rajesh replied, “Sir, when you raised my salary on the birth of my son, I thought my son had brought his share with him. That’s why, I wasn’t surprised. When I absented again without your permission because of my mother’s death, you were angry with me and decreased my salary. I didn’t mind it thinking that she had taken her share with her and, therefore, I kept working as before.”

The shop owner was happy to listen to his reply and patted him on the back.

Equanimity arises when we accept the way things are.

Jack Kornfield