Parables of Wisdom
Kesari the Thief
केसरी चोर · કેસરી ચોર
A flying thief who tried to steal one last diamond
- 5 min full story
- 2 min children's telling
- For all ages
- Shvetambar telling
A thief with a pair of magic flying sandals robs a whole city, until one day, running from the king, he hears a monk speak of a diamond he has never managed to steal.
What it teaches Samayik Transformation Equanimity
The opening of the children's telling
Long ago, in a rich city, there lived a young man named Kesari. Kesari was not kind. He took things that did not belong to him. He was a thief!
One day Kesari found a pair of magic sandals. When he put them on, he could fly like a bird! Now he flew into houses at night and took gold and jewels. Everyone was afraid of him.
Read the whole story See plans
To carry into the day
The most precious diamond is a quiet, even mind.
To talk about together
What would it feel like to sit for a while with no anger, no greed and no fear?
Retold for JainStory from the traditional narrative and checked against published Jain sources. Details vary between tellings.