3. The Bundle of Sticks
An old monkey on the point of death summoned his sons around him to give them some parting
advice. He ordered them to bring in a bundle of sticks and said to his eldest son: "Break it." The son
strained and strained, but with all his efforts was unable to break the sticks. The other sons also tried, but
none of them was successful. "Untie the bundle," said the father, "and each of you take a stick." When
they had done so, he called out to them: "Now, break," and each stick was easily broken. "You see my
meaning," said their father.
What was the father's meaning?