Once Buddha was traveling from one part of the country to another. During his journey, he came across a group of villagers trying to rescue a trapped elephant. The poor animal was stuck in a muddy pond, struggling to free itself.
The majestic beast once belonged to the king’s army and was announced to retire because of its aging. He no longer saw the battlefield which was his way of life. He loved facing the enemy, and now being trapped in the mud did not make any sense to him. After listening to the story, Buddha calmly approached the situation and instructed the villagers to create a path of small stones leading into the pond.
On the other hand, the Buddha instructed the villagers to bring the war drums to the site. When everything was in place, he requested the drummers to play it loud as they would do it on the battlefield. The elephant, hearing the sound of war drums, regained its strength and courage, walking on the small stones to freedom.
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Moral of the Story
This story teaches us that sometimes we just need a little push or reminder to tap into our inner power and break free from any obstacles in life. We just need to believe in ourselves and let go of any fear or doubt that may be holding us back. Thank you, Buddha, for reminding us to trust in ourselves and always strive for freedom.