Pleasure from inflicting pain on others

As young children, we have read the classic story of the fox and the crane which presents the notion of tit for tat. The fox invites the crane for lunch and offers food on a plantain leaf. The fox relishes its lunch but the crane cannot even get a bit of the meal into its beak. In the meantime fox also laughs heartily at the crane’s plight and pats himself on the back to have successfully tricked the crane. 

A few days later the crane invites fox for lunch and puts a long necked barrel in front of him containing delicious food. While the crane savors it, the fox struggles to reach the food and instead gets its head stuck in the barrel. 

The story concludes showing the crane in good light depicting its intelligence to inflict the insult in return for the one that itself suffered. 

However before we stop at this conclusion, let us analyze the behavior of fox. Why in the first place fox had to invite crane and create an unfortunate situation? A simple thought that would appear in our mind is that the fox wanted to make fun of the crane. 

Now, let us look at our own environment. How many such people do we find who are most interested in indulging in such activities to cause agony to others? It is the sadistic pleasure that they derive out of each such situation which prompts them to continue their antics. 

They laugh and jeer at the person who is suffering. They make merry when they have made others fall into their trap. But before they realize that it is not a righteous act, they would have committed a morally unjustifiable sin. 

We need to consciously maintain a safe distance from such persons and keep reminding ourselves about the unpleasant path such a callous attitude leads us to.   

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