Why Do Our Best and Brightest Migrate?

I was recently asked why do we keep donating our smartest people to other countries? It reminded me of a story of Gautama Buddha, founder of Buddhism.

Once he was passing by a village full of very good and very bright people. They were crème de la crème. And yet during the night Buddha prayed that the worst may befall their village, famine, calamity etc.

Soon after he was passing by a village of really bad and dangerous people. And yet during the night Buddha prayed for them to have bountiful crop and happy living.

His disciple was deeply disturbed and he couldn’t restrain himself any longer. With great agitation he asked Budha the reasons for his strange prayers.

Buddha clamly explained that he wanted good life for the bad villagers so they have no need to spread outside their village. Thus their evil ways will be contained within the village and wouldn’t spread to the outside world.

In the other village Buddha found really great people, people who could positively influence the world and make it a better place. Buddha wished calamity for the village so they would be forced to move outside and spread their good and saintly ways.

Heh