There once lived two very good friends—a crow and a deer. While the deer hopped leisurely around the forest, the crow would fly close watching over him. The deer thus became carefree and this fearlessness had made him plump. He was a sight to behold.
One day a jackal noticed him and fancied him for a meal.
“This deer is going to be quiet a meal!” he thought. The deer was very swift, it was foolish to think that the jackal could catch him easily, therefore, he had to design a trap. He thought it to be a good idea to befriend the deer first.
“Hello my dear friend,” he called out to the deer.
“Who are you?” said the suspecting deer.
“I am a lonely jackal,” he replied,
“I am looking for a friend to pass my days. Whenever I see you spending your time in fun and frolic, I feel attracted to your company.”
The deer was getting flattered by the kind words of the jackal. He began to show keen interest in the conversation. The jackal continued to roll out compliments and said sheepishly, “I promise, O deer! If you take me in your company, I shall serve you as a servant forever.”
The foolish deer believed whatever the jackal said. Together they decided to pass the night at the jackal’s house. The crow saw the deer walking with the jackal and was aghast.
“Hey friend!” he yelled, “What are you up to?”
“Hello there!” said the deer in a surprised tone. He was so busy listening to the jackal’s flattery that he almost forgot about his best friend.
“Ahem,” said the deer clearing his throat.
“Meet jackal, my new friend… our new friend,” the deer corrected himself, “He wants to befriend both of us.”
“Certainly I want to,” replied the jackal promptly nodding his head.
The crow stared at the jackal in suspicion for a while and then turned to the deer, “Did you not learn that one should stay away from the strangers.”
The deer was offended, but before he could say anything, the jackal interrupted, “You are indeed a wise bird, but were you not a stranger for the deer when you met him first?”
The deer prompted, “Yes indeed crow! You should also become friends with the jackal, we three will be great company.”
Although the crow had sensed danger, he agreed to keep company with the jackal to please his best friend. Each morning, the three friends would go out their ways in search of food and each night they would meet again at the jackal’s house.
One night when the crow had fallen asleep, the jackal lured the deer into a field full of ripe corn. The deer was just too delighted to see such delicious food. He had his fill and thanked the jackal. Here on, he began to consider the jackal his best friend and did not even bother to mention about their late night expedition to his old friend, the crow. One day, the ruining crop came to the notice of the farmer.
“I must watch over my field carefully through the night,” thought the farmer and sat at guard.
The careless deer entered the field, munching on the crop here and there, unmindful of the lurking danger around. At the right moment, the farmer threw a net over the deer and nailed the edges. He then retired home for a peaceful sleep. The deer panicked and cried but could not do anything. Just then, he saw the jackal.
“Help,” he called out, “Get me out of here my friend.”
The sly jackal was waiting for the farmer to kill the deer so that he could feast on it. When the deer called for help, he made a silly excuse, “Deer, my friend…how did you ever get trapped in here?Even if I want, I cannot set you free as the net is covered with bits of your flesh and I will have to cut it through. However, I am fasting today and cannot get my mouth close to it.”
The deer was shocked. He now knew that the jackal was not a friend. “It is too late to lament now,” he thought to himself, “I will die here in desolation.”
The crow suddenly awakened in the night. He searched for the deer all around but there was no sign of him. He went out into the fields and cawed fiercely hoping that the deer would hear him. As the crow approached the corn field, the frightened deer heard him.
“Here crow!” the deer called out.
“How did you get into this trap?” he queried angrily.
The deer narrated his tale of woe and asked for forgiveness. The crow consoled his friend and suggested a plan. They were to wait for the morning sun to rise and for the farmer to return. Finally, the morning dawned. The crow flew up to a nearby tree while the deer stiffened his body as if he were dead. The farmer came with a thick stick in his hand, intending to kill the deer but when he saw his stiff body, he presumed that he was already dead. He happily lifted the net and the very same moment, the crow cawed signalling the deer to run for his life. The angry farmer threw his stick hard, aiming at the deer, but instead it hit the jackal hiding in the bushes. The jackal died of the injury.
Moral : Never believe strangers who admire you for no reason
#Buddha #Buddhism #Zen #Life #Lifestyle #wisdomwinds
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