Intelligent Student
Once four Brahmans went all over India and amassed every kind of knowledge. They wanted to show each other what each could do with his various skill and secret arts.
So they met in a forest, and one of them found a bone. It happened to be a tiger’s thighbone. The Brahman who found it said, “I can create the whole skeleton of this animal,” and he did so.
The second Brahman said, “I can give it skin, flesh, and blood,” and so he did. There in front of them stood a lifelike tiger, stripes and all.
The third Brahman said, “You know what I can do? I know how to give it life.”
The fourth Brahman, who was not half as learned as the others, said, “Wait, don’t give it life. We believe you.”
But the third Brahman said, “What’s the use of having the power to do something and not doing it? I’ve never been able to exercise this art of mine. I’m going to give life to this thing. Just watch.”
The fourth Brahman said, “If you insist. But please wait till I climb this tree.” And he quickly scampered up the nearest tree.
Then the third Brahman, with his mantras and magic skills, breathed life into the tiger. As soon as it came to life, it was hungry and looked around for something to eat. And it pounced on the three Brahmans, who stood there huddled in terror, unable even to run away. It killed them all and devoured them at leisure, leaving only their bones on the forest floor.
God Bless You
Fr Eugene Lobo SJ
