Once, a pigeon and a crow lived in a birdhouse next to a rich man’s house. One day, the crow said to the pigeon, “I can smell the delicious food being cooked in the kitchen. Help me and we shall get the food.” The pigeon said, “No friend, work hard to find food.” The crow agreed. After some days, the crow saw different kinds of food in the rich man’s kitchen. The pigeon was a Shravaka (disciple). Soon, the pigeon went out of the birdhouse to meet a bhikshu (monk). The crow crept into the kitchen. It sat on the edge of the stew pot and picked up a large fish. However, in doing so, it dropped the lid and eventually fish too. Hearing the loud noise, the cook came running. The angry cook tried to pluck the crow’s feathers, but it flew away! However, the pain reminded the crow of its foolishness and greed for a long time.
Moral: Don’t let greed make you deaf to wise advice.
