Long, long ago, a monk walked through a forest and came out towards a village. As he was passing by, he saw a snake coiled and sitting sadly outside the hollow of a tree. The monk could speak to birds and animals.
“What is the matter, friend snake?” he asked, “You seem to be sad.”
“I am sad,” replied the snake.
“Why?” asked the monk.
“Do you see those children there?” asked the snake, nodding at some children playing near the village. “They play there and I hear their voices, talking and laughing. But no one comes near me and talks to me or plays with me. I feel so lonely!” said the snake as big teardrops fell from his eyes.
“That’s really not a problem, you know. They are frightened of you. If you stop biting them, I am sure they will play merrily with you,” suggested the monk.
“That’s a good idea!” said the snake, cheering up, “Thank you!” The monk went on his way, begging for alms. The snake became friendly with the children. The children now played with him and often banged him on the hard ground.
One day, the monk happened to come to the same village and saw the snake. The poor snake was wounded and bleeding from several injuries. He lay on the outskirts of the forest, groaning.
“What has happened to you, friend snake?” asked the monk, giving him some water to drink and lovingly putting some herbs on his wounds.
“All this is because of you, you silly monk!” said the snake. “Because of me?” said the monk, surprised. “But I haven’t seen you for many months!”
“Do you re-member the last time you were here?” complained the snake, “You told me that I shouldn’t bite those children. Then they would be friendly with me. Well, I did what you suggested. They became so friendly that they lost all fear. They would sit on me, pull my tail, throw stones at me and even beat me with sticks. And now look what has happened to me! I can barely move!”
The monk smiled and said, “I asked you to stop biting them. I didn’t ask you to stop hissing at them, did I?”
“What is that supposed to mean?” asked the snake.
“My dear, friendship is a good thing, but there must be respect even between friends. You must not allow familiarity which makes people treat you with lack of respect,” advised the monk.
Moral: Friendship is good; familiarity is not.
