There
was also a very clever quail hunter. He knew how to make a quail call. Because
this sounded just like a real quail crying for help, it never failed to attract
other quails. Then the hunter covered them with a net, stuffed them in baskets,
and sold them to make a living.
Because
he always put the safety of his flock first, Quail King was highly respected by
all. While on the lookout for danger, one day he came across the hunter and saw
what he did. He thought, "This quail hunter has a good plan for destroying
our relatives. I must make a better plan to save us."
Then
he called together his whole nation of a thousand quails. He also invited other
quails to attend the meeting. He said, "Greetings to our quail nation and
welcome to our visitors. We are faced with great danger. Many of our relatives
are being trapped and sold by a clever hunter. Then they are being killed and
eaten. I have come up with a plan to save us all. When the hunter covers us with
his net, every single one of us must raise his neck at the same time. Then, all
together, we should fly away with the net and drop it on a thorn bush. That will
keep him busy, and we will be able to escape with our lives." All agreed
to follow this smart strategy.
The
next day the hunter lured the quails with his quail call as usual. But when he
threw his net over them, they all raised up their necks at once, flew away with
the net, and dropped it on a thorn bush. He could catch no quails at all! In addition,
it took him the rest of the day to loosen his net from the thorns - so he had
no time left to try again!
The
same thing happened on the following day. So he spent a second day unhooking his
net from sharp thorns. He arrived home only to be greeted by his wife's sharp
tongue! She complained, "You used to bring home quail to eat, and money from
selling quails. Now you return empty-handed. What do you do all day? You must
have another wife somewhere, who is feasting on quail meat at this very moment!"
The
hunter replied, "Don't think such a thing, my darling. These days the quails
have become very unified. They act as one, and raise up their necks and carry
my net to a thorn bush. But thanks to you, my one and only wife, I know just what
to do! Just as you argue with me, one day they too will argue, as relatives usually
do. While they are occupied in conflict and bickering, I will trap them and bring
them back to you. Then you will be pleased with me again. Until then, I must be
patient."
The
hunter had to put up with his wife's complaints for several more days. Then one
morning after being lured by the quail call, it just so happened that one quail
accidentally stepped on the head of another. He immediately got angry and squawked
at her. She removed her foot from his head and said, "Please don't be angry
with me. Please excuse my mistake." But he would not listen. Soon both of
them were squawking and squawking, and the conflict got worse and worse!
Hearing
this bickering getting louder and louder, Quail King said, "There is no advantage
in conflict. Continuing it will lead to danger!" But they just wouldn't listen.
Then
Quail King thought, "I'm afraid this silly conflict will keep them from cooperating
to raise the net." So he commanded that all should escape. His own flock
flew away at once.
And it was just
in time too! Suddenly the quail hunter threw his net over the remaining
quails. The two arguing quails said to each other, "I won't hold
the net for you." Hearing this, even some of the other quails
said, "Why should I hold the net for anyone else?"
So
the conflict spread like wildfire. The hunter grabbed all the quails, stuffed
them in his baskets, and took them home to his wife. Of course she was overjoyed,
and they invited all their friends over for a big quail feast.
Moral: There is safety in unity, and danger in conflict.
(From: "Buddhist Tales for Young and Old")
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