AP: 35 rupees and that pack of chocolate costs rupees 1000. And not only is this little chap carrying only 35. He thinks this 35 is much more than enough. He thinks it’s a treasure. It’s a big-big sum. That’s how the ego operates. It has not much but it thinks that it has everything. In his estimation, everybody is a superstar. Is he not? In his own eyes, everybody is the center of the universe. Is that not true? So, a little kid has only rupees 35 but he thinks he is the lord of the two worlds. So, he is standing in front of the shopkeeper and negotiating. He is saying, 'You know, I have these. For these much how many packs can you give me? ' Because in his own eyes - because you see he is a little chap. How big is he? Two and a half (feet) - In his own eyes, this much is big. That's the thing with the ego. Because the ego is little so every little thing is big for the ego. Understand this. Because the ego is such a little thing. So, every little thing is big for the ego. Because the ego is little and at the same time big in its own perception. 'I am big. I am puffed up. ' Is that what you not call as pride, arrogance, conceit or vanity, or whatever? 'Ahhhh! I am somebody. ' Because the little chap is looking at the shopkeeper. 'I am somebody. ' The shopkeeper says, 'Ideally from the business point of view I must just shake him away, he is wasting my time. ' But he looks into the kid’s eyes and he sees desire and then his heart melts and then something called compassion happens. And he says, 'Fine chap! I can give you that chocolate but you will have to give me everything that you have. ' Tell me what does the kid say? The kid says. 'You are a cunning man who is trying to loot me. You are robbing me of everything that I have. You are such a cunning man. ' And the shopkeeper says, 'I might be a cunning man. Maybe you are right but right now I am making you an offer. Why don’t you think over it? I will give you that chocolate but you will have to give me everything that you have. ' The little fellow says, 'No way! What I have is worth a 1000 chocolates. How can I give you my precious 35 rupees? I can’t. ' The shopkeeper repeats the offer. The little fellow once again spurns the offer, hurls an abuse or two at the shopkeeper. Goes out of the shop and while going out kicks the door of the shop with contempt. 'Two hoots to you! Who are you? And you are thinking that you could easily rob me. He wanted all that I have! '
