The Foolish Disciple

The Bodhisattva was once born into a Brahmin family and later grew up to be a teacher. He had many disciples, among who was a very foolish but devoted youth, who had a habit of saying all the wrong things. With the hope to improve him, the Bodhisattva asked him to tell him whatever he saw or did every day.

One day, while walking, the youth came upon a snake. When he told the Bodhisattva about it, he asked, “How does the snake look?”

The student thought for a while and said, “It looks exactly like the handle of a plough.”

The Bodhisattva found the expression good.

But when the disciple went on to compare the look of a plough handle to that of an elephant, a sugarcane plant, molasses and even curd and milk, the Bodhisattva realized that his disciple was indeed foolish and could never become as intelligent as the others.

The author of this story is unknown and greatly appreciated!