The Bodhisatta and the Young Deer: A Tale of Survival

Once, the Bodhisatta was the wise leader of a herd of deer in a vast and perilous forest. One day, his sister approached him with a request. She asked him to teach her son the tricks to avoid the dangers of the hunters who roamed the land. The Bodhisatta agreed, setting an appointment for the lessons, and his nephew arrived promptly, eager to learn. Day after day, the young deer listened attentively and practiced the skills that would keep him safe.

However, as fate would have it, the young deer soon found himself trapped in a hunter’s snare. The news of his capture reached his mother, who became frantic with worry. But the Bodhisatta reassured her, “Do not worry. Your son has studied well and will find a way to escape.”

The young deer, lying in the trap, remained perfectly still. He stretched his legs out, rolled his tongue to the side, and turned his eyes upward while breathing softly through his nostrils, playing dead with such realism that flies began to swarm around him and crows perched in the nearby trees. When the hunter came to check on his catch, he saw what he thought was a rotting carcass and, believing the deer to be dead, released the trap. The hunter went off to gather firewood for smoking the meat, leaving the young deer free. At once, the deer sprang to his feet and swiftly ran back to his mother, safe once more.

Moral:
Diligence and preparation in the face of danger lead to survival. The wisdom to follow guidance and remain calm in times of crisis is what ensures success and safety.