The Limping Horse: A Lesson in Choosing Company

Once upon a time, in a kingdom ruled by a wise and fair king, the royal warhorse, a majestic and powerful steed, began to limp. Concerned for the health of his prized horse, the king summoned his royal doctors. They carefully examined the horse, but could find no physical ailment or injury. Puzzled, the king sent for the Bodhisatta, his trusted advisor, to investigate the matter.

The Bodhisatta observed the horse carefully, watching its every move. After a while, he noticed something unusual. The horse, though healthy in body, seemed to be mimicking the behavior of its trainer, who himself walked with a noticeable limp. It was then that the Bodhisatta understood the problem. “This is a case of bad company,” he said to the king. “The horse is imitating its trainer’s limp. If you replace the trainer with someone who walks correctly, the horse will soon be fine again.”

The king, trusting the Bodhisatta’s wisdom, immediately replaced the trainer. As the new trainer worked with the horse, the limp disappeared, and the horse regained its strength and grace. The kingdom rejoiced at the swift solution to the problem, and the royal steed returned to its former glory.

In the Lifetime of the Buddha

In the time of the Buddha, one of his disciples had been persuaded by a friend to abandon his usual routine of collecting alms in the morning and instead join a group at the monastery of Devadatta, a troublesome and misguided monk who had once been a follower of the Buddha but had later turned against him. The disciple began to indulge in luxurious meals and distractions, abandoning the disciplined path of his spiritual practice.

The Buddha, knowing the disciple’s behavior, called him to speak with him. “You have been misled by bad company,” the Buddha said. “Just as the horse imitated the limp of its trainer, you too have adopted the ways of your misguided friend. You must now return to the righteous path and associate with those who lead by example.”

The Buddha then told this story to the disciple, showing him how in the past, the same pattern of bad influence had led to trouble. He explained that the disciple, just like the limping horse, had fallen into poor habits because of the negative influence of those around him.

Moral of the Story

The story of the limping horse teaches an important lesson about the power of influence. Just as the horse imitated the behavior of its trainer, we too are shaped by the company we keep. Negative influences can lead us astray, while positive, virtuous company can help us grow in the right direction.

The Moral

Be mindful of the company you keep, for those around you can shape your character and your future.