Ilisa and Kesiya, two misers, foolishly filled their lives with worry. Had they understood the joy of giving and sharing, how much happier they and their families - would have been! Buddha's most important message, that desire and greed block the path to eternal bliss, is reiterated in the Jataka tales. These light-hearted parables teach us to respect ourselves as well as others. But, like Manduka in the story, they also relish an occasion to get a fool to part with his money!