In ancient India, there were seven remarkable sages. They lived in different places, yet all of them possessed great wisdom and were committed to teaching people different virtues.
The first sage was named Ananda. He lived in a peaceful valley and the virtue he taught was kindness. Ananda always wore a white robe and his eyes were full of love. He often helped the small animals in the valley. Whether it was an injured bird or a lost little fox, he would take good care of them. He told people that kindness, like sunlight, can warm every life.
The second sage was Vishnu. He lived in a hut beside a rushing river. The virtue Vishnu taught was honesty. He always spoke straightforwardly and never lied. Once, a merchant lost a bag of gold coins while crossing the river. Vishnu picked it up and waited by the river for the merchant to come back to look for it. Even though his own life was very poor, he was determined not to touch the bag of gold coins at all. He said that honesty is a person's most precious wealth, more precious than any gold or silver treasure.
The third sage was Surya. He lived on the top of a mountain, where it seemed very close to the sun. The virtue Surya taught was courage. He often faced various dangers on the mountain alone, such as fierce wild animals and steep cliffs. Once, a child from the village accidentally ran into the mountain and got lost. Surya did not hesitate to go deep into the mountain, fought with wild animals, crossed dangerous places, and finally brought the child back to the village safely. He told everyone that courage is being able to move forward firmly when facing fear.
The fourth sage was Brahma. He was in a thick forest, surrounded by ancient big trees. The virtue Brahma taught was wisdom. Every day, he would sit under a big tree to think about the mysteries of the universe. He knew a lot of knowledge about the stars, the moon, plants and animals. Many young people came to ask him for advice, and he always answered patiently, telling profound truths in simple words. He said that wisdom is like a bright lamp that can light up the road ahead for people.
The fifth sage was named Indra. He lived near a magnificent castle. The virtue Indra taught was tolerance. Sometimes the soldiers in the castle would quarrel over trifles, and Indra would always go to mediate between them. Once, a soldier accidentally knocked over another soldier's precious shield. The soldier whose shield was knocked over was very angry and wanted to retaliate, but Indra made him understand that tolerance can dissolve hatred and bring people's hearts closer.
The sixth sage was Shiva. He lived in a mysterious cave. The virtue Shiva taught was diligence. He himself reclaimed the land around the cave and planted various crops. He got up early every day, watered, fertilized, and weeded, and took good care of his farmland. He told those who came to visit him that diligence can create a wonderful life, and only by sweating can one harvest fruits.
The seventh sage was Garuda. He lived on a high cliff, and there were always many flying birds around him. The virtue Garuda taught was unity. He observed the flying birds flying in groups, looking for food together and defending against foreign enemies together. He told people that the power of unity is infinite, just like a rope made of many thin strings, which can bear more weight.
