The mouse’s wisdom, camel’s lesson

Once there was a little mouse who lived in an abode of a saint. This mouse had the habit of listening to what the saint said to his visitors. The mouse heard that one has to go in search of a higher place to see what is happening in the lower place.

He gave an example:

"If you climb a mountain top, you should be able to see what is happening down under. You must be knowledgeable to see that. You should be vigilant and achieve the state of wisdom. It is the wisdom that guides any living being, whether it is a human or a little mouse."

When he heard these words, the little mouse thought:

"I must go out in search of wisdom. That is something I do not have."

He thought he could elevate himself to a better plane of living by gaining wisdom. The little mouse decided to leave the abode of the saint. Then he went out of the saint's abode taking a firmer step. He wanted to climb a mountain and look down under. But there was no mountain visible around the abode of the saint. Then the little mouse went further and further carefully noting he would not be a prey to any other dangerous creature. In this manner he came to a riverside where he saw some people taking a bath dipping in the river, and some others swimming in merriment. Some people were singing songs, while some others were dancing.

He did not want to be exposed to anyone around. His sole aim was to climb on to a higher place and look down to obtain wisdom.

Then all of a sudden he saw a well built camel with a mountain like hump on his back. Oh, this is a mountain-like animal, thought the little mouse.

It is good if I can climb on to the hump of this camel and look around in order to see what is happening around. How can I do that? This is a living creature, and anyway he is a camel, a walking mountain. But will the camel help me to climb onto his hump? He had not spoken to a camel before.

"Can I ask you a question?"

"What is it?"

"Can I climb on to your hump and see the world?"

"What are you talking about?"

Then the little mouse explained the mission. The camel was listening to the little mouse.

"All right I agree to take you on my hump on one condition."

"What is it?"

"You should not trouble me."

"I am not going to trouble you. I just want to see the world and gain wisdom."

The camel agreed to take the mouse on his hump. The mouse, with great difficulty, climbed on to the hump and held it tightly.

"Are you all right?" Asked the camel.

"I am fine. Now take me to a mountain, will you."

The camel took him to a mountain. The camel was tired. But the mouse will not allow him to rest.

"Take me to the kiosk where people eat and drink... Take me to the boutique where people buy things..." The little mouse became a pest. In this manner the little mouse, seated on the hump, went on dictating.

"You have changed your attitude," said the camel.

"Have I?"

"Yes you have. You look more like a dictator now. I don't like that attitude. At this rate you will never be able to gain wisdom."

The little mouse got annoyed. "You promised to show me the world but you have changed your attitude."

They both had cross words. One was not willing to listen to the other. For a moment the camel stood thinking as to what he should do. The camel had no way of hurling the mouse down by over throwing the mouse by shrugging the body. The mouse stood firmly holding the hump of the camel he felt uneasy.

"Will you come down now? I am tired." Said the camel.

"I am tired too. But I have not seen the world you promised to show me. And I have not gained any wisdom. So being on your hump I have wasted a good lot of time." The camel thought of a plan to get rid of the mouse on his hump.

"Shall I take you to a wonderful place where you can gain wisdom?"

"By all means," said the mouse. The camel took the mouse to a sandy area in the desert. The mouse could not bear the scorching sunshine.

"Oh please help me please take me off this area," cried the mouse.

"Why? What is wrong with you? You are in search of wisdom aren't you?"

"But I am burning in this hot sun. Burning to ashes. Please take me off your hump."

"Then jump down and run when I enter the oasis area," the camel entered the oasis area and leaned against a palm tree. The mouse jumped down and ran away.

"Oh you foolish little mouse! You will never ever gain any wisdom without being kind to a creature who helped you!" Said the camel seeing that the mouse is deserted in this vast area alien to living conditions of a mouse.