It is true that education is

important. We all strive

hard to complete our
studies which can elevate
our status in society.
However, there is
something more important
than being educated. We go
to school to learn. But
learning doesn’t end in
 As you read the text,
you will witness how
differences in
education made a big
role among the
characters involved in
the story.
Notes: In early Indian History, the title Brahman was given to the learned
people in the highest caste of society. The Brahmans were those men
who were highly educated and who understood and carried out the
duties of the priesthood in the Hindu religion. As years passed not all
men born into the Brahman caste lived up to the high standards of being
well educated. Such is the case in this story.
 Lesson 1

The Lion Makers

as retold by Dr. Mike Lockett
Long, long, long ago four Brahmans lived in the same town. They were
wonderful friends as children. Each was very smart. But the way they
showed their intelligence was different. Three of them were scholars. They
read everything they could find to read and loved to argue and debate. But,
they had very little common sense in the ways of the world.

The fourth had very good common sense but had very little formal
education. He had to work from the time he was young. He had not been
able to go to school, and he could not read.

"How does being smart help us if we continue to live here where the people
are poor and where there is no money to be made?" they asked of each
other. "We should travel to other parts of the world and use our wisdom to
make ourselves rich." This was how they set out on their journey.
When they had gone only a short way, the eldest of them said, "One of us
does not deserve to be in our company." He looked at the fourth
Brahman. "Our companion has no education," he stated. "He has only
common sense! No one can become rich without a good education. I don't
think we should share our earnings with him!"

The second Brahman turned to the first and said, "You are right. Our friend
has no education. Let us send him home instead of sharing our fortune with
him that we will earn with our intelligence."

The third said, "No, no. This is not the way to behave. We have been
friends since childhood. We should let him come with us. We will give
him an equal part in all that we earn!"

The first two agreed after a long discussion to let the fourth Brahman
continue with them on their journey. They walked along until they came
to the bones of a dead lion.
The first of the educated men said, "Here is a chance to show our ignorant friend how much
we know. Here lie the bones of some dead creature. Let us see if we can bring it back to life
by using all that we have learned." Then he added, "I know how to put a skeleton back
together!"

The second Brahman, not wanting to be outdone, said, "I can give it skin and cover it with
flesh and give it blood." As he did this, the third Brahman stated that he could breathe
life back into the body.

As he said this, the fourth Brahman spoke up. "My friends," he said, "I concede that you
have learned much more from books and schools than I have. But, my common sense tells
me that we should not bring a lion back to life. I do not believe we are wise to do this. If
he comes back to life, he will want to eat us."

The first three Brahmans were angry with him. "We let you travel with us even though
you are not very knowledgeable like we are. You know so very little, and yet you
presume to know more than we do?
"I only know what my common sense tells me," the fourth Brahman stated.
"However, if you intend to persist in bringing the dead lion back to life,
please hold your efforts until I have climbed this tree."

After the fourth Brahman climbed the tree, the first three Brahmans
completed their task of bringing the lion back to life. As the breath of
life filled his lungs, the lion let out with a great roar and ate up all three
scholars who were on the ground.

With a full stomach, the lion was not willing or able to climb the
tree and eat the fourth Brahman. So the man with no formal
education had the sense to climb down the tree and go back to his
former home.
 Answer the following questions:

1. Describe the four main characters in the story.

2. Why did the first two Brahmans exclude the fourth one to join in
their journey?
3. Why do you think the lion killed the Brahmans who had brought
him to life?
4. Why did the three Brahmans stay on the ground while the fourth
climb up the tree?
5. Why do you think the fourth Brahman let his companions
brought the lion back to life in the end?
6. What do you think the fourth Brahman has that the others don’t
have?
7. Do you believe that a person who achieved a formal education is
better than the one who did not? Justify your answer.

Activity will posted in your Google Classroom.