the night, when Ãcariya Chob finally lay down to take a rest.
Awaking at about three A.M., he lit a candle only to find the tiger
reclining impassively as before. After washing his face, he sat in
meditation until the first light of dawn; then he rose from his seat
and put away his mosquito net. Glancing up, he saw the tiger still
stretched out comfortably, looking like some oversized pet dog in
front of its master’s house. Eventually, the time for his daily alms-
round arrived. The only way out of the cave went straight past the
tiger. He wondered what its reaction would be when he walked by.
As he put on his robes he noticed the tiger looking at him with
soft, gentle eyes like a dog looking wistfully at its master. Since
he had no other alternative, he would have to pass within several
feet of it on his way out. When he was ready, he approached the
mouth of the cave and began speaking to the tiger:
“It’s now time for my morning almsround. Like all other
creatures in this world, I am hungry and need to fill my stomach.
If it’s okay with you, I’ll go out and get some food. Please be kind
enough to let me pass by. If you want to stay on here, that’s fine
with me. Or, if you prefer to go off searching for something to eat,
that’s all right too.”
The tiger lay there listening to him with its head cocked
like a dog listening to the voice of its master. As Ãcariya Chob
walked past, it watched him with a soft, gentle gaze as if to say:
Go ahead, there’s no need to be afraid. I’ve only come here to pro-
tect you from danger.
Ãcariya Chob walked down to the local village for his alms-
round, but he didn’t tell anyone about the tiger for fear they might
try to kill it. Returning to the cave he looked at the place where
the tiger had been, but there was no longer any sign of it. He had
jacob rumans
(Jacob Rumans)
#1