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Once upon a time, in a quiet village, there lived a man named Nay Daung. He was extremely lazy—so lazy that he refused to do any kind of work, no matter how simple it was. Because of his laziness, people stopped calling him by his real name. Instead, everyone called him Nga Pyin (which means “the lazy one”).
Although Nga Pyin never wanted to work, he had a strong desire to become rich. He would always think to himself, “How can I become wealthy without doing any work?” Every time he saw rich people, he would admire them deeply. He would dream:
“If I were rich, I’d live in a grand house like them. I’d eat delicious food like them. I’d marry a beautiful woman just like a wealthy man does.”
With those dreams in his heart, Nga Pyin spent his days fantasizing about a luxurious life.
One day, he met his friend Aye Ko on the road. Aye Ko was someone who always advised Nga Pyin to stop being lazy and start working. But this time, before Aye Ko could say anything, Nga Pyin opened up about his dream of becoming rich without lifting a finger.
Aye Ko calmly replied,
“Don’t worry, Nay Daung. Sometimes, people become rich because of the good deeds they did in past lives. When the time is right, blessings will come. Just don’t lose hope.”
After Nga Pyin walked away, Aye Ko stood there thinking, “How can I make this guy realize the value of effort?”
A few days later, Nga Pyin went to rest at an abandoned shrine at the edge of the village. As he lay down to sleep, he found a folded paper tucked under his head. Curious, he opened it and read:
Dear Friend,
The moment you find this letter, your fate begins to change. If you follow the instructions exactly, you will obtain treasures beyond your wildest dreams.
Go to the cemetery west of the village. Once you arrive, walk exactly fifty steps to the north from the shrine. You will find a large stone. Move that stone and dig the ground beneath it.
There you will discover a treasure chest filled with wealth you could never finish in a lifetime. But you must go alone. Tell no one, take no one. Only then will the treasure be yours alone.
Good luck, — A Well-Wisher
Nga Pyin was thrilled!
“I’m going to be rich! I can’t tell anyone. I’ll go late at night when everyone’s asleep.”
He rushed home and quietly gathered the tools he’d need.
That night, under the moonlit sky, while the whole village was asleep, Nga Pyin crept out toward the west cemetery. On the way, he heard dogs howling in the distance, but he wasn’t afraid—his greed was stronger than his fear.
When he reached the shrine in the cemetery, he carefully counted fifty steps to the north, as the letter instructed. There, he saw a giant stone. It was massive.
Nga Pyin thought, “How can I move this alone? Maybe I should’ve brought someone.” But then he said to himself, “No! If I bring someone, I’ll have to share the treasure. I’ll do it myself!”
He struggled hard to move the stone. It took a long time, but eventually, he succeeded.
“The stone is finally out of the way. I’m exhausted, but I must dig now!”
He began to dig in the spot where the stone had been. After a while, he heard a clink—he had hit something. Excited, he used his hands to clear the remaining dirt and uncovered a wooden chest.
“This is it! I’ve found the treasure chest! I’m going to be rich! No more work! I’m finally going to live the good life!” he shouted joyfully.
But when he opened the chest, he gasped:
“Huh?!”
There was no treasure inside. Only a single piece of paper.
His heart sank, but he picked it up and read:
Dear Friend,
The treasure you seek is not inside this chest.
The true treasure… is your own effort.
Think about it—you moved a giant stone all by yourself. That strength, that persistence, came from you.
In life, everyone must work. Just like you had to move that heavy rock, some tasks will be hard. But you now know you have the strength to do them.
If you apply that same effort and energy to your daily life, you will surely achieve the life you desire.
Work is not a punishment; it is the responsibility of all people.
Use your strength, and live a life of purpose.
With best wishes, Your Well-Wisher
As Nga Pyin finished reading, everything finally made sense. He stood in silence, the truth hitting him deeply.
“So I’ve been living my life all wrong… avoiding work, dreaming of wealth without doing anything. From today on, I will change. I will stop being lazy and use my time wisely. I’ll work hard and earn the life I dream of!”
With a renewed heart and clear purpose, Nga Pyin walked home as the sun began to rise.
From that day forward, Nga Pyin — now once again called Nay Daung — became a hardworking man. He started working in farming and doing his best every day. The villagers were amazed to see him change. They no longer saw a lazy man, but someone full of energy and determination.
Aye Ko, watching from a distance, smiled with joy.
“My dear friend Nay Daung, I was the one who wrote that letter and hid it for you. I made up the story of the treasure chest to help you wake up. And now, seeing the result… I am truly happy.”
And from then on, Nay Daung lived a meaningful life, with purpose, effort, and pride—not from buried treasure, but from discovering the real treasure within himself.
