Finding Out a Contented Man

Short Version

Once there was a wise and rich man. He built a beautiful house. On the front gate, he wrote, “This house is for a person who is truly contented.”

One day, a stranger passed by the house. He read the words on the gate. Then he went to the rich man and said, “I am a contented man, so this house should be mine.”

The rich man asked, “How can you prove that you are contented?”

The stranger said, “I am always happy when I get new things.”

The rich man replied, “Then you are not contented. A contented person is happy with what he has. But you still want this house and more wealth.”

The stranger understood his mistake. He felt ashamed and quietly went away.

Moral: A contented person is happy with what he has.

Expanded Version

Once there was a wise and rich man. He had a beautiful house with a large garden. He wanted to teach people an important lesson about contentment.

On the front gate of his house, he wrote a notice: “This house will be given to a person who is truly contented.”

Many people passed the gate and read the words. Some were curious, but nobody came forward at first.

One day, a stranger stopped and read the notice. He thought about the large house and said to himself, “I am a happy man. Perhaps I can get this house.”

He went to the rich man and said, “Sir, I am a contented person. According to your notice, this house should be mine.”

The rich man looked at him carefully and asked, “How do you know that you are contented?”

The stranger replied, “I enjoy getting new things, and I will be very happy if I get this house.”

The rich man smiled and said, “Then you are not truly contented. A contented person is satisfied with what he already has. If you really needed nothing more, you would not come here asking for my house.”

The stranger became silent. He understood the truth of the rich man’s words.

Feeling ashamed, he thanked the man for the lesson and quietly went away.

Moral: A contented person is happy with what he has.