The Brahmin's Pot of Rice Flour

A poor Brahmin who lived on alms was once given a large pot of rice flour, more than he had seen in months. He hung it on a peg above his bed and lay down beneath it, staring up happily as he began to dream aloud.

"I'll sell this flour for a good price," he told himself, "then use that money to buy goats. The goats will have kids, and I'll sell those too, and buy cows, then land. Soon I'll be wealthy enough to marry a beautiful wife, and we'll have a fine son. And if that boy ever misbehaves —" he raised his hand as if holding a stick, acting it out fully, "— I'll deal with him just like this!"

His arm swung wide in the excitement of the imagined scolding and struck the pot squarely, shattering it. The precious flour rained down over him, and with it, every goat, cow, wife, and son he had built in his mind.