“Hello, everyone,” Bigteacher began. “Today, I want to share a quote with you and explain its meaning through some stories. The quote is, ‘The most successful tempters and thus the most dangerous are the deluded deluders.’ Let’s break this down and understand it through a few tales and historical examples.”
The students leaned in, curious and ready to listen.
“First, let me tell you a story from our own epic, the Mahabharata,” Bigteacher said. “Do you remember the story of Duryodhana? He was the eldest of the Kauravas and was filled with jealousy and hatred towards the Pandavas. Duryodhana was a deluded deluder. He believed he was justified in his actions and convinced his brothers and friends to follow his path. He was successful in tempting others to join his cause, but in the end, his delusion led to the great war of Kurukshetra and the destruction of his entire family.”
The students nodded, familiar with the tale and understanding how Duryodhana’s delusion made him dangerous.
“Now, let’s look at a historical example,” Bigteacher continued. “Have you heard of Adolf Hitler? He was a leader in Germany who believed in the superiority of his race and led his country into World War II. Hitler was a deluded deluder. He truly believed in his twisted ideology and convinced many people to follow him. His delusions caused immense suffering and destruction, affecting millions of lives around the world.”
The students listened intently, realizing the gravity of such delusions in history.
“To bring it closer to home, let’s talk about a tale from the Jataka stories,” Bigteacher said. “There was once a cunning jackal who believed he was the smartest and tried to trick other animals into giving him food. He was so convinced of his own cleverness that he deluded himself and the others around him. But eventually, his tricks were discovered, and he was cast out by the very animals he tried to deceive.”
The students smiled at the familiar story, seeing how the jackal’s delusion led to his downfall.
“These stories and examples show us that the most dangerous people are those who are deluded themselves and manage to convince others to follow their misguided beliefs,” Bigteacher explained. “They may be successful in tempting others, but their delusions lead to harm and destruction.”
He concluded with a final thought, “It’s important to always question and think critically about what we believe and who we follow. Just because someone seems confident or persuasive doesn’t mean they are right. As the great philosopher Socrates once said, ‘The unexamined life is not worth living.’ Always examine your beliefs and actions carefully.”
The students nodded, understanding the importance of being aware of deluded deluders and the power of critical thinking. They left the classroom with a new perspective on the dangers of delusion and the importance of questioning and seeking the truth.
