Part 31 (1/2)

LXV.

THE LOST SON.

There was a householder's son who went away into a distant country, and while the father acc.u.mulated immeasurable riches, the son became miserably poor. And the son while searching for food and clothing happened to come to the country in which his father lived. And the father saw him in his wretchedness, for he was ragged and brutalized by poverty, and ordered some of his servants to call him. 1

When the son saw the place to which he was conducted, he thought, ”I must have evoked the suspicion of a powerful man, and he will throw me into prison.” Full of apprehension he made his escape before he had seen his father. 2

Then the father sent messengers out after his son, who was caught and brought back in spite of his cries and lamentations.

Thereupon the father ordered his servants to deal tenderly with his son, and he appointed a laborer of his son's rank and education to employ the lad as a helpmate on the estate. And the son was pleased with his new situation. 3

From the window of his palace the father watched the boy, and when he saw that he was honest and industrious, he promoted him higher and higher. 4

After some time, he summoned his son and called together all his servants, and made the secret known to them. Then the poor man was exceedingly glad and he was full of joy at meeting his father. 5

Little by little must the minds of men be trained for higher truths. 6

LXVI.

THE GIDDY FISH.

There was a bhikkhu who had great difficulty in keeping his senses and pa.s.sions under control; so, resolving to leave the Order, he came to the Blessed One to ask him for a release from the vows. And the Blessed One said to the bhikkhu: 1

”Take heed, my son, lest thou fall a prey to the pa.s.sions of thy misguided heart. For I see that in former existences, thou hast suffered much from the evil consequences of l.u.s.t, and unless thou learnest to conquer thy sensual desire, thou wilt in this life be ruined through thy folly. 2

”Listen to a story of another existence of thine, as a fish. 3

”The fish could be seen swimming l.u.s.tily in the river, playing with his mate. She, moving in front, suddenly perceived the meshes of a net, and slipping around escaped the danger; but he, blinded by love, shot eagerly after her and fell straight into the mouth of the net. The fisherman pulled the net up, and the fish, who complained bitterly of his sad fate, saying, 'this indeed is the bitter fruit of my folly,' would surely have died if the Bodhisatta had not chanced to come by, and, understanding the language of the fish, took pity on him. He bought the poor creature and said to him: 'My good fish, had I not caught sight of thee this day, thou wouldst have lost thy life. I shall save thee, but henceforth avoid the evil of l.u.s.t.' With these words he threw the fish into the water. 4

”Make the best of the time of grace that is offered to thee in thy present existence, and fear the dart of pa.s.sion which, if thou guard not thy senses, will lead thee to destruction.” 5

LXVII

THE CRUEL CRANE OUTWITTED.

A tailor who used to make robes for the brotherhood was wont to cheat his customers, and thus prided himself on being smarter than other men. But once, on entering upon an important business transaction with a stranger, he found his master in fraudulent practices, and suffered a heavy loss. 1

And the Blessed One said: ”This is not an isolated incident in the greedy tailor's fate; in other incarnations he suffered similar losses, and by trying to dupe others ultimately ruined himself. 2

”This same greedy character lived many generations ago as a crane near a pond, and when the dry season set in he said to the fishes with a bland voice: 'Are you not anxious for your future welfare?

There is at present very little water and still less food in this pond. What will you do should the whole pond become dry, in this drought?' 3

'Yes, indeed' said the fishes, 'what should we do?' 4