The Buffalo and the Monkey

Very long ago, in India, near the beautiful city of Gaya there lived a mighty bull buffalo. He was a sight to behold: massive, with great muscles and huge curving horns with razor sharp tips.

Moving through the forest the great buffalo appeared as a dark blue mountain. The lions and the tigers stayed out of his path, because they knew they were not equal to his strength.

But the great buffalo's nature was the opposite of his appearance. He was the most gentle and wise of creatures. A mischievous monkey had discovered the buffalo's kindness, and he decided to abuse it. The monkey had found that the buffalo would put up with whatever trick he played. The monkey would jump on the bull's back and ride him like a horse, or swing between his great horns, or cover his eyes so he could not find his way; he would stand in his path so he couldn't graze, jump on his head when he was sleeping and wake him, or even poke his ears with a stick. Whatever the monkey did, the buffalo went about his business, not seeming to mind at all. The monkey reveled in the situation, always trying to think up new ways to anger the buffalo.

A grandmother owl who lived in the woods often observed the monkey and the buffalo, and she was very perplexed about the relationship. One day she asked the buffalo, "Great buffalo, you are feared by the tiger and the lion, yet you let this monkey abuse you in countless ways. In an instant you could crush the insolent little beast and be done with him. Why don't you?"

"Of course I know my own strength," answered the buffalo, "but I would not think of using it on that silly little monkey. It's easy to be patient and tolerant of those who are good to you. The challenge is being patient and tolerant with those who treat you badly. This monkey, with his taunting, is actually doing me a favor. I work on developing the virtue of tolerance and compassion by putting up with his behaviour. Maybe he'll learn from my example, and maybe he won't. It's not my job to discipline him. We all need challenges to develop our virtues. This monkey is supplying me with the chance to grow."

"Your greatness, wondrous buffalo, is not just in your mountainous size and strength, but also in your sublime wisdom. Thank you for teaching me this important lesson," the old owl said.

She then bowed to the buffalo and flew back to the top of her tree to contemplate the buffalo's remarkable words.