The Clever Dog’s Escape: A Lesson in Patience

The Tale
Once, there was a wealthy man in the city who had a dog. The dog had been raised on rice, and as a result, it grew fat and content. Eventually, a villager bought the dog and took it home, tying it up in a hut. The Bodhisatta, who had been out on errands, saw the dog and advised it to chew through its leash and escape. The dog, however, replied that it was not foolish, but waiting for the right moment.

That night, as the village slept, the dog gnawed through its leash and, with great joy, made its way back to its original master’s home.

In another time, during the Buddha’s lifetime, a stray dog wandered near the gates of one of the Buddha’s monasteries. Fed by passing water carriers, the dog grew large and strong. One day, a villager bought the dog and tied it with a chain, taking it back to his house. The dog walked beside him without protest, and the man, thinking the dog had grown fond of him, decided to remove the chain.

The moment the chain was off, the dog ran straight back to the monastery, where the Buddha’s disciples, witnessing the dog’s escape, praised it for its wisdom. When the Buddha heard the story, he told his disciples that in a past life, this same dog had made an equally clever escape.

Moral
Patience and wisdom guide us to the right path, even in situations that may seem confining. The right timing reveals the way out.