Wrong Friends

The Bodhisattva was once born as the leader of the iguanas and lived with his family in the forest. He had a young son who made friends with a chameleon. The Bodhisattva did not approve of this and often warned his son, “Don’t be so friendly with the chameleon. He might bring us trouble.” But the son refused to listen. Fearing that the chameleon might harm them, the Bodhisattva prepared a secret route to escape in case of danger. Meanwhile, the chameleon grew tired of the iguanas’ friendship and showed a trapper the nesting ground of the iguanas. The trapper lit a fire around it, killing most of the iguanas while they tried to escape. But the Bodhisattva and his family ran away unhurt through the secret route. Once they were in a safe place far away from home, they young iguana sought his father’s forgiveness and promised never to disobey him.

The author of this story is unknown and greatly appreciated!