THE ROOT OF ALL TROUBLES

In a certain place the fishermen were catching fish.
A kite swooped down and snatched a fish. At the
sight of the fish, about a thousand crows chased
the kite and made a great noise with their cawing.
Which-ever way the kite flew with the fish, the
crows followed it. The kite flew to the south and
the crows followed it there. The kite flew to the
north and still the crows followed after it. The kite
went east and west, but with the same result. As
the kite began to fly about in confusion, lo, the fish
dropped from its mouth. The crows at once let the
kite alone and flew after the fish. Thus relieved of
its worries, the kite sat on the branch of a tree and
thought: 'That wretched fish was at the root of all
my troubles. I have now got rid of it and therefore
I am at peace.'
As long as a man has the fish, that is, worldly
desires, he must perform actions and consequently
suffer from worry, anxiety, and restlessness. No
sooner does he renounce these desires than his
activities fall away and he enjoys peace of soul