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One Story, Five Learning Lessons...
A popular ‘Panch Tantra’ tale illustrates a profound message through the antics of a donkey who disguised himself as a tiger by wearing his hyde when he witnessed the tiger dying.
The donkey, draped in the tiger’s hide, managed to deceive other animals in the jungle. They feared the supposed tiger and offered him food to avoid danger. A satiated Tiger does not hunt, old jungle saying.
However, the donkey’s facade eventually crumbled, leading to dire consequences.
On a festival day, to appease the tiger, the other animals offered him a feast to eat. The other animals wanted to be safe. Whatever could be a better trade off for them than to over feed this tiger to save themselves.
The tiger eat his feast and enjoyed. At the end of his hefty meal he belched and prayed. Not realising his folly, he brayed again and again, each time louder and louder. He forgot he was a donkey and started actually believing that he was the tiger.
The other animals from a distance saw it all and herd the loud bray, each time. They realised that neighbour donkey was missing for a couple of months too and soon put 2 plus 2 together and realised that the donkey was all along making a real ass of them. They were livid. They ran after him and before he could escape, they caught him and beat him up to death.
Real life has several parallel pretenders. There are asses each one of us know, who wear the hydes of tiger and want the world to believe and respect them like a tiger. The Panchtantra tale has lessons for children. imagination and application has many more lessons for the learning adults.
Reflecting on this tale, let us recall some key lessons:
1. Authenticity prevails: Pretending to be what we’re not is unsustainable; truth inevitably reveals itself, unmasking facades. The donkey’s bray cannot mimic the tiger’s roar forever!
2. Deception breeds discord: Betrayal fuels resentment, as seen when the animals felt cheated by the donkey’s charade. It wasn’t just about lost food; it was about being deceived, leading to dire consequences.
3. Dishonesty begets more deceit: Ill-gotten gains fuel further lies, perpetuating a dangerous cycle. The greedy donkey’s repeated charades only hastened his downfall.
4. Stay vigilant: Anomalies demand scrutiny to avoid being misled. Just as the animals investigated, we must question inconsistencies to prevent deception.
5. Honesty leads to lasting success: Quick wins through deceit are short-lived; true achievement requires integrity and honesty. The donkey’s downfall serves as a cautionary tale.
This timeless narrative serves as a stark reminder that authenticity and integrity pave the way for enduring success. Not the skin but the character, strength and capabilities maketh a tiger
