Buddhist Stories for Kids by Laura Burges

Author:Laura Burges [Burges, Laura]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Shambhala
Published: 2022-12-06T00:00:00+00:00

All the animals followed along behind Lion—at a very respectful distance. They got to Hare’s clearing and saw the coconut lying on the ground and stood around it in a circle, looking back and forth at one another. Their eyes followed the slender trunk of the coconut tree up to the top, where ragged fronds and coconuts bobbed in a slight breeze.

And there was Hare, hiding in a hollow tree, trembling.

Because Lion was strong and patient and wise, he was also kind. “Come out of there, Hare. I won’t hurt you. I understand you have tried to save all the animals by warning them about a great danger, is that right?”

Hare felt pleased to be singled out in this way. She smoothed her dappled fur and sat up a little straighter. “Why, yes, that’s right! Thank you for coming, Lion. Are you going to help us?”

“Yes, I am, Hare,” he said gently. “I’m going to help you. Your fear tricked you into thinking something was happening that wasn’t. It was just this falling coconut that scared you. And then you upset all the animals of the forest with your foolishness. A rumor that isn’t true can spread like wildfire. Let me ask you something. Imagine the world is coming to an end. What should you do?”

Hare thought for a moment. “Hide in a hollow log?” she said.

“No,” said Lion. “You should stop imagining!”

Strangely enough, because Hare had bravely faced the fiercest of beasts, she was no longer so afraid. The Lion King, who would one day be reborn as the Buddha, had taught Hare and the other animals of the forest something they would always remember:

Most of the things we are afraid of never happen!

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