There was a monkey who lived in a forest tree, by a river. One day, the monkey saw a fish swimming in the river and thought the fish was struggling. Feeling compassionate, the monkey resolved to save the fish. It swiftly climbed down the tree, reached out, and grabbed the fish from the water. It then climbed back up and laid the fish on a tree branch. There, the fish flapped violently and soon died. The monkey was puzzled, it had only wanted to help.
This story highlights a fundamental idea about different perspectives, environments, and misunderstanding.
The monkey, being a land-dwelling creature, interpreted the fish's swimming as struggling or suffering because it judged the situation based on its own environment and experience. It saw the fish being underwater, not breathing air as it does, and assumed that the fish was in peril. In its well-intentioned efforts to help, it took the fish out of its natural environment and put it into its own environment, thus leading to the fish's demise.
The moral of the story is a caution against assuming that what is right or natural for one being necessarily applies to others. It warns us of the dangers of imposing our own perspectives and ways of living onto others without truly understanding their needs, their nature, or their environment. This parable also encourages us to develop a deep sense of understanding and empathy for the diverse perspectives and needs of different beings, recognizing that each has its own unique way of being in the world.
#EnsureOthersFeelSeen #EnsureOthersAreHeard #EmpathyInAction
