HORSE
The work of creating the universe was nearly over. The creator hit upon a new idea. He wanted to create a new kind of animal.
He summoned
his assistant and said, “Bring me some more materials, I shall make a species
of animal.”
The
assistant knelt down and replied, “Father, when, under the creative zeal, you
made elephants and whales, lions, and patrons, you barely thought of the
quantity of substance they cost. You
have finished your stock of harder materials.
Little is left of the harder materials.
There is enough of the lighter materials.”
The creator
said, “Well, bring me whatever you have.”
This time
the creator created the new animal using only a little of the harder
materials. He used plenty of the lighter
stuff of which the air and the skies are made.
He gave it neither horns nor claws.
He gave it teeth, which could chew but not bite. However, it was full of
energy. It had no desire for
fighting. It had deep love for
freedom. It came to be known as
horse. It ran about freely in the open
field. It did not bounce on a prey. It only loved to run and run. Wise men say that such a thing happens when
you have too much of the wind and sky stuff in you.
The creator
was delighted with his own work. He gave
forests to some animals to live in. He
gave dens to some animals. But he liked
to see the horse running aimless race. So he assigned to it an open field.
Man lived
beyond that field. He was suffering from
the weight of his burdens. He wanted to
shift his burdens to the horse. So he
captured it. He put a saddle on its back
and a curb in the mouth and put it in stable.
The tiger
remained in its forest home. The lion
was in its den. But the horse lost its
home, the open field. In spite of its
deep love for freedom, it could not escape bondage.
Life became
unbearable to the horse. It kicked
wildly at the walls. That did less
injury to the wall than to the horse’s hoofs.
But after constant kicks, bits of plaster began to fall off. It made man angry. “This is what I call ingratitude” he said, “I
feed it, I have engaged servants to take care of it, but the wretched animal
does not see my kindness.”
Man took
firm measures to tame the horse. At last
he could proudly, say that there wasn’t a creature more faithful to man.
It did not
have claws and horns. Nor did it have
teeth which could bite. For fear of the
whip it had to give up the kicking. Only
by neighing it could express its displeasure.
One day, the creator heard the sad cry, of the horse. He looked for it in the open field and found
it missing. He summoned death and said, “This
is your doing. You got hold of my horse.” Death said, “Eternal father, I have nothing
to do with your horse. Your suspicion is
baseless. Be good enough to direct your
glance from me to the house of man to know the truth.”
The creator
looked down again. He saw the
horse. It was standing in a narrow
walled space, neighing weakly.
His heart
was filled with pity. He said to man, “unless
you set the horse free, I shall make I as cruel as the tiger.”
Man said “Father,
this creature of yours does not deserve freedom. Look what a nice stable I’ve built for its
comfort and well being.”
God insisted
on Man obeying him. Man said, “I shall
obey your will. But I am sure you will
soon change your mind. You will agree
that my stable is the best place for it.
Man tied the
front legs of the horse and set it free. Thus tied, it could hop about only
like a frog.
Creator saw
the horse from the great distance of heaven.
He could not see the cord tied to the front legs of the horse. The ugly movement of the horse made the
creator feel ashamed. He felt sorry for
the blunder he had committed in creating such an ugly animal as the horse.
Man said, “What
is to be done with it? Are there no fields in heaven where it might be sent to
roam.”
The creator
answered, “I have had enough of it. Take
the horse back to the stable. Man said, “But
father, the animal will be a great burden to me.”
The creator
answered, “Yes, but by accepting the burden you will show your kindness and generosity”
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