The Four Friends

The mural below is from Labrang Tashikyil Monastery and it illustrates the story of the Four Friends, a symbol of harmony. The ancient times, before the coming of the Buddha, an elephant, a monkey, a hare and a grouse lived in the jungles of the Kingdom of Kashinagar, which is in present day Varanasi, in India. 

They lived in harmony, enjoying each other’s company. They decided that the source of happiness lay in respect for others, and wishing to share this revelation with the world, set out to spread the word.  

Gradually, they developed the practice of the Five Precepts: Abandoning the taking of life, of taking what doesn’t belong to one, of licentiousness, of taking intoxicants and of pointless chatter. This practice brought them a clear mind and inner joy. It also brought harmony to their environment, first the jungle then the kingdom, bringing timely rain and bountiful harvests. The King, reflecting on these fortunate events, called on a sage to find out the cause. The sage told him it was thanks to the wisdom of four animals who lived deep in the jungle. The King asked the sage to bring the animals to him, but he refused, saying all the king needed to do was to practice the five precepts himself. The King followed his advice and the whole kingdom prospered. Kashinagar became an example for neighboring kingdoms and all experienced happiness and peace. 

The saying goes that these animals were no ordinary beings, but ones of great merit and advanced spiritual development. Later, when the Buddha came to the world, he preached that the Five Precepts were the basis for all spiritual development and that their practice led to great wisdom, eventual release from samsara and, ultimately, enlightenment.