There were two monks in a monastery - one of them was young and the other was old. The old monk was avaricious. He had a full cupboard of persimmons but he did not give the young monk even to taste them. He was eating them himself saying: "Don't eat what is hidden in the cupboard or you will die immediately!" Once the old monk disappeared for a moment and the young made a dart to the cupboard, opened it and ate all the persimmons. Then he took the old monk's favorite cup and smashed it to atoms.
After that he went to bed and wrapped his blanket around him.
The old man came and asked:
"Why are you in bed?"
"Oh, teacher! I have committed a deadly sin. I have broken your favorite cup unintentionally. Let the fate do justice upon me: I have eaten everything that was in your cupboard and now I am lying here in hourly dread of death."

Electronic text: Moshkov Library
Photo: Leonid Chechurin

This is how the young monk turned the old monk's lie to his advantage.