The Donkey in Lion’s Skin: A Lesson in Self-Awareness

Once upon a time, the Bodhisatta was a farmer living in a peaceful village. One day, a traveling salesman came to the village, accompanied by his donkey. The salesman had a clever trick to avoid anyone bothering his animal while it grazed. When not in use, he would drape a lion’s skin over the donkey and set it loose in the fields. The donkey, now disguised as a fierce lion, would wander through the barley and rice fields, and the villagers, frightened by the sight of a lion, dared not chase it away. Instead, they let it feast on the crops, thinking it was a mighty predator.

One day, the salesman came to the Bodhisatta’s village, and as soon as he entered, the watchman cried out that a lion had appeared near the fields. The villagers, in a panic, rushed to the scene, blowing conchs and beating drums to drive the lion away. The disguised donkey, frightened by the noise and commotion, let out a loud “hee-haw,” revealing its true identity. Realizing the trick, the Bodhisatta called out that it was merely a donkey in a lion’s skin.

The villagers, now understanding the ruse, quickly ran up and clubbed the donkey to death. When the salesman returned and saw what had happened, he muttered in frustration, “My donkey is too stupid to keep its mouth shut.”

In the Lifetime of the Buddha

In the time of the Buddha, the donkey in this story represented a disciple who, like the donkey, was unaware of his own foolishness. This disciple had aspirations of reciting scriptures at an assembly, and one day, he was invited to do so. However, when the time came for him to speak, he grew nervous and ashamed. He stumbled through the first verse but could not remember the second. Embarrassed, he left the assembly and retreated to his quarters.

Later, some of the other disciples were discussing the incident, and the Buddha overheard. He used this story to teach them a lesson, explaining that just like the donkey betrayed itself by letting out its unmistakable bray, the disciple had exposed his own lack of ability by trying to speak beyond his capability.

Moral of the Story

This story illustrates the importance of knowing one’s limits and being aware of one’s own shortcomings. Just as the donkey’s braying revealed its true nature, the disciple’s failure to recite the scriptures exposed his lack of preparation. The moral is:

The Moral

Do not overestimate your abilities, and be mindful of your limitations, for sometimes, trying to be something you’re not can only lead to embarrassment.