The Buddha didn't spend all his time talking to grown-ups. He also talked to kids. He told them all kids of wonderful stories. These stories were from the Buddha's past lives, when he learned what caused happiness and what caused suffering. The children remembered the stories and they passed them on to their children. Now it is more than 2000 years later, but the stories are still here. When you listen to them, it is the same as the Buddha himself teaching you right now.
One of my favorite stories is the one when the Buddha was a tree. His job was to give food and shelter to the many beings that lived in a pond. He was happy to be helping the other beings, but he watched in sorrow when a greedy heron caused many fish to die.
This is what happened. The heron tricked the fish. He told them he knew of a much nicer pond with fresher water and more food. He told the fish he wanted to carry them there. The fish believed him, and one by one, he picked them up and flew away. As soon as he was out of sight he would gobble up the fish. The Buddha was very sad that he could not warn the fish, but he had no mouth and no way to talk to them.
One sly crab was not so trusting. He told the heron that he would only go with him if he could hold on to the heron's neck with his pinchers. When they were in the sky, the crab said, "Where is the pond?" "There is no pond," laughed the heron. "I lied so I could eat up all the fish!"
I'm afraid the heron did not last long after that. As soon as he landed on the ground, the crab quickly killed the heron with his pinchers and scuttled to the nearest pond. The Buddha felt sorrow even for the greedy heron, but it is true that greediness leads to suffering.
Hey
kids!
Would you like to write a story or draw a picture about the Buddha
or his teachings for the newsletter? If you do, tell your parents! They
will help, after all the kid's corner is for kids!
