The two travelers encountered a bear on their path. One man quickly climbed a tree to safety while the other played dead by holding his breath and remaining still. The bear smelled the man but left him alone, as bears do not touch dead bodies. When the coast was clear, the tree climber asked what the bear whispered. The man on the ground replied that the bear advised to never travel with a friend who deserts you in a time of danger.

1. Story To
Reflect
Upon 141
Flame of Love
"I can master it", said the Ax.
His blows fell heavy on the hard, strong steel.
But each blow only made his edge blunter until he ceased to
strike.
"Leave it to me", said the Saw.
With his relentless teeth, he worked back & forth.
But to his dismay, all of his teeth were worn out or broken
off.
"Ha!" said the Hammer. "I knew you could not do this.
Let me show you how."
But with the very first blow, his head flew off, and the steel
was unchanged.
"Shall I try?" asked the Flame.
And it curled itself gently around the strong, hard steel, and
embraced it, and would not let it go.
And the tough steel melted.
There are hearts that are hard enough to resist:
The forces of wrath,
The fury of pride.
But hard is the heart that
can resist the warm "flame of Love".
Reflection
* Force, aggression and violence are not effective
ways to resolve a problem or conflict.
* ‘Hatred is not overcome by hatred; hatred can only be
overcome by LOVE. This is an eternal law.

2. Story To
Reflect Upon
142
The Bear and the Two Travelers
Two men were traveling together, when a
bear suddenly met them on their path. One
of them climbed up quickly into a tree and
concealed himself in the branches. The other, seeing
that he must be attacked, fell flat on the ground, and
when the bear came up and felt him with his snout,
and smelt him all over, he held his breath, and
feigned the appearance of death as much as he
could.
The bear soon left him, for it is said he will not touch
a dead body. When he was quite gone, the other
Traveler descended from the tree, and jocularly
inquired of his friend what it was the
bear had whispered in his ear. "He gave me this
advice," his companion replied. "Never travel with a
friend who deserts you at the approach of
danger."
Reflections
* A true friend will come to the assistance of one in
great trouble; he will not just desert him down no
matter how difficult the circumstances.
* True friendship is difficult to come by in a world
money, status and power craving.