Buddhist Parables - 01

 

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Buddhist Parables

A separate subject called Buddhist parables is not included in the Tripitaka Dharma. But when Lord Buddha preached the dharma to his disciples, he included many different miraculous parables in his sermons. While teaching Buddhism as a great philosophy and a path to be followed, it is evident from the Tripitaka that Lord Buddha has taught the Dharma using these similes.

Buddha's warning

For spontaneous free-thinking, you must doubt. You must ask. You must not fall into extremes. Any idea should not be accepted because it comes from a generation. It should not be taken by logic. Should not be taken according to theory. Do not take it just because the teacher said. It should not be taken just from old books. This should not be assumed to be the case. He should examine the cause and effect and accept it if he understands it.

The special thing found in Buddhist parables is that the events and propositions that are the subject of those parables are arranged in such a way that they are completely connected to life and life activities. When adapting it to life, it becomes possible to understand the behavior of the entire human community. If you look deeply into them, you will understand that Buddhist parables are another communication technique that is integrated with the teachings contained in the teachings of the Buddha. This is another such excellent Buddhist parable.

                                                photo credit to - https://www.pinterest.com/

One day a certain tortoise was walking near a river bank in the evening looking for food. Also, a certain fox was looking for food near the riverbank in the evening. Seeing the fox in the distance, the tortoise thought that the fox was coming to eat him. Thinking like that, the tortoise put its head and four limbs into its shell and remained silent without any effort. The fox saw this tortoise from afar and thought that if this tortoise put its head or limb or organ out of its shell, it would immediately break it and eat it. But the tortoise, who understood the intention of the fox, waited patiently without taking his head and other organs out of the shell until the fox left. Defeated because the tortoise did not act according to his ideas, the fox left.

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The meaning of the parable

The head and limbs of the tortoise are the eye, ear, nose, tongue, body, and mind of human life. A fox is a variety of external images, sounds, smells, tastes, touches, and various thoughts. We fall into thoughts of good or bad,  by thinking about these objects, without conscious awareness. We are victims of evil by acting on the thoughts that are always brought down by the mind. The Consciousness or mind is like a magician. Therefore, just as the tortoise carefully hides its organs, we must watch our hearts very carefully.

-samyutta nikaya/kummopama sutta-