THE WORLD A DOG’S CURLY TAIL

There was a poor man who wanted some money . Somehow he had heard that if he could get hold of a ghost , he might command him to bring money or anything else he liked; so he was very anxiousto get hold of a ghost . He went about searching for a man who would give him a ghost and at last he found a sage who could give him a ghost. When he requested for a ghost , the sage asked him what he would do with a ghost. ‘ I want a ghost to work for me . Teach me how to get hold of one , sir. I desire it very much ‘, replied the man . But the sage said : dont disturb your self . The next day the man went again to the sage and began to weep and pray: ‘give me ghost . I must have a ghost , to help me.’ At last the sage was disgusted and said : “Take this charm , repeat this magic word and ghost will come. And whtever you say to him he will do. But beware! They are terrible beings and must be kept continually busy. If you fail to give him work, he will take your life.” The man replied : ” thst is easy.I can give him work for his whole life.”

Then he went to a forest and after a long repetition of the magic word , a huge ghost appeared before him and said : ‘ I am a ghost . I hsve been conquered by your magic , but you must keep me constantly employed. The moment you fail to give me work I will kill you.’ The man said – ” Build me a palace , ” ” bring me money” . Here is your money – said the ghost . Anything more? Now the man began to be frightened and though he could give him nothing more to do. The ghost said- ” give me something to do or i will eat you up .” The poor man could find no other occupation for him and was frightened. So he ran and ran and at last reached the sage and said – ” oh sir , save my life !.” The sage asked him what the matter was and the man replied – ” i have nothing to give the ghost to do . Everything i tell him to do , he does it in a moment .

The sage said – “i will find a way out. Look at the dog with the curly tail . Draw your sword quickly snd cut the tail off and give it to the ghost to straighten out.” The man cut off the dog’s tail and gave it to ghost , saying – ” STRAIGHTEN THAT OUT FOR ME.” The ghost took it and slowly and carefully strsightened it out , but as soon as he let it go, it instantly curled up again. So he went on for days and days , until he was exhausted and said : ” I was never in such trouble before in my life . I am an old veteran ghost , but never before was I in such a trouble. I will make a compromise with you . You let me off and i will let you keep all i have given you and will promise not to harm you .” The man was much pleased and accepted the offer gladly.

Swami Vivekanand explains: The world is like a dog’s curly tail and people have been striving to straighten it out for hundred of years. But when they let it go , it curls up again. How could it be otherwise? So we shoyld always remember the instance of a curly tail of a dog. We need not worry or make ourselves sleepless about the world . It will go on without each of us. Our worries will not help it. But when we stop worrying about the world , then alone we will be able to work well. It is the level- headed man , the calm man of good judgment and cool nerves, of great smypathy and love , who does good work and so does to himself . The one who is complaining all the time is foolish and has no sympathy. He can never straighten out the world , nor can he improve himself.