Syamlal was the owner of a popular shop called Syamlal & Sons. When he was on his death bed, his wife summoned all his three sons, Megha Syam, Ghana Syam, and Radhe Syam to be near the dying father. The wife said to her husband: “You can now die in peace; all your sons are here with you”. Syamlal replied, "How can I die in peace, when no one is attending the shop?”

Joseph was a moneylender against gold ornaments. When he reached the last stage of his life, they called the local priest for the ‘last communion’. The priest had a golden cross gifted to him by the Pope. He asked Joseph to hold the cross and say the prayers. Joseph was in a delirium. The priest went on saying, "tell, Joseph, tell". Joseph rubbed the cross and said, "It’s not pure gold. In your case I shall give Rs 2500. That's all."

Three priests belonging to three different religions were interviewed on how they dealt with the money they got from the devotees in the collection box. The first said, “I have a vessel with holes through which the coins can drop out. What ever drops out belongs to the Lord. What stays in the vessel is mine." The next said, "I put the collections on a plate and then blow air. Whatever falls out of the plate is mine. The rest belongs to Allah." Now it was the turn of the third priest. He said, “I give God the choice. I throw all the money up. Whatever God wants he catches. The rest he leaves for me".

Krishna Moorthy