The Quail

The Bodhisattva was once born as a young quail who lived with his family in a well protected grass nest. Every morning his parents would go out to fetch food leaving him behind with his brothers. They returned with eatables like figs, worms, grass seeds and the like. His brothers age whatever their parents brought but the Bodhisattva refused to eat anything except the grass seeds and figs, for he was averse to destroying any form of life, even worms. Consequently his brother developed strong wings and grew up to be healthy adult quails while the Bodhisattva remained frail and was too weak to fly. Yet he remained happy thinking he had not killed any creature to satisfy his hunger.

The author of this story is unknown and greatly appreciated!