The
Whatnot Tree
(Prudence)
Once upon a time, there was a caravan leader. He went from
country to country selling various goods. His caravans usually had at least 500
bullock carts. One day, on one of these trips, he came to a very thick forest.
Before entering it, he gathered all the members of the caravan together and
warned, “My friends, poisonous plants and trees are known to grow in this
forest. Therefore, be careful to avoid all poisonous trees, fruits, leaves,
flowers and honeycombs. Do not eat any fruit, leaf, flower or other plant parts
without asking me first.” Everyone nodded and promised to take great care. Now
there was a village near the outskirts of the forest, and just outside that
village stood a tree called the ‘whatnot tree’. Its trunk, branches, leaves,
flowers and fruits looked just like those of a mango tree. It was so similar
that even the colour, shape, smell and taste of the fruit resembled closely to
those of a mango. But unlike the mango, the whatnot fruit was an extremely
poisonous fruit! Some who were ahead of the caravan came upon the whatnot tree.
They were all hungry, and the whatnot fruits looked like delicious, ripe
mangoes. So before anyone could say a word, some started eating the fruits,
without a second thought.
Others remembered the leader’s warning, but thinking this was
just a different breed of mango tree and not wishing to be left out from the
fruit feast, they too devoured the fruits. Fortunately, some who were wiser
than the rest decided it would be safer to heed the warning of the caravan
leader. Although they didn’t know it, their leader was actually a Bodhisattva.
When the leader arrived at the tree, those who had waited and
not touched the fruits asked, “Sir, what is this tree? Is it safe to eat these
fruits?”
“No, no. This may look like a mango tree, but it isn’t. It is
a poisonous whatnot tree.
Don’t even touch it!” replied their leader after careful
investigation.
Those who had eaten the whatnot fruit were terrified. “Try
and vomit up all you have just eaten now,” said their leader. When they had all
thrown up the poisonous whatnot fruit, their leader gave them four kinds of
sweet foods to eat — raisins, cane sugar paste, sweet yogurt and bee’s honey to
refresh their taste buds.
Unfortunately, the greediest and most foolish ones who had
thoughtlessly eaten the poisonous fruits without a second thought could not be
saved. It was too late, for the poison had started to spread. In the past, when
caravans camped near the whatnot tree, people consumed its fruits and died in
their sleep. Local villagers would bury the bodies in a secret hiding place the
next morning, and then divide the merchandise and bullock carts of the caravans
among themselves.
They expected the same to happen this time. So at dawn the
next day, the villagers raced towards the whatnot tree. “The bullocks will be
mine,” some said.
“I want the carts and wagons,” shouted others.
“And I will take the loads of merchandise,” said the last
group.
But when they reached the whatnot tree, they were surprised
to see that most of the people in the caravan were still well and alive. “How
did you know this is not a mango tree?” the villagers asked breathlessly.
“We did not know,” came the reply. “But our leader had warned
us ahead of time, and when he saw it he knew,” continued the caravan members. “Oh
wise one, how did you know this is not a mango tree?” asked the villagers
again, this time to the caravan leader. He replied, “I knew because, firstly,
this tree is easy to climb. Secondly, it is located right next to a village. So
if the fruits on such a tree remain unpicked, they cannot be safe to eat!”
Everyone was amazed that such lifesaving wisdom was based on
such simple common sense. Having finished his words, the caravan continued on
its journey safely.
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