Sometimes when learning to teach, we are told to teach with examples, with stories, and with philosophy. This story is simple with a helpful meaning.
At one time a turtle was stuck in a farmer’s small pond. The farmer used the pond for planting and somehow the turtle ended up there. Maybe someone released it there. So he was enjoying the pond. However, one day, the water was running out. There was no more water coming or maybe someone had blocked the source of the water.
The turtle realized there would be no more water in the pond. He was very sad and did not know where to go. At that moment, two birds came to drink some water. They looked at the turtle’s face and saw he was so sad. They asked, “What happened to you?” The turtle did not want to say it. Then they said, “Why don’t you tell us? Maybe we can do something for you.”
The turtle said, “It’s obvious, look around, I am running out of water. You guys will fly away, and I will die here.” The birds said, “You don’t necessarily have to die here. There is a way to get somewhere where there is water.”
The turtle replied, “Look at me and look at you. You cannot carry me. There is no solution.” The birds said, “Let’s think about it. There is not only one, but two of us here. We can help you.” The turtle asked, “How?” The birds replied, “How about we bring a stick and we hold the stick at both ends. We fly together and take you to a place where there is a big water source, like a stream or something.”
The turtle answered, “Really, is that possible?” The birds said “Yeah, why not?” So the turtle said, “Okay, let’s do it.” So the birds brought a stick and the turtle held on at the middle with the birds holding both ends and away they flew – one, two, three, like geese flying in the sky. The turtle had never flown in the sky and it felt so good, seeing a lot of things on the ground.
Before they flew off the birds told the turtle, “There is one risk. You should not let go of the stick at all, not for any reason. You have to hold it very firmly.” You know turtles, they have a big body and a long neck. His hands could not grab anything. They could only dig in the ground. So, he was holding the stick with his mouth.
So the birds told him, “Never let go. If you do, you will fall, and that’s not a good idea.” So he listened to them and they were flying together and the turtle was enjoying the moment.
Then, a lot of kids on the ground looked up and saw the two birds carrying the turtle with the turtle holding on.
As the kids were looking up, they said, “It is so amazing, these birds are so brilliant, taking the turtle like that, cooperating to take the turtle.” They were praising the birds a lot. The turtle could not take it. He thought that was his idea and he was the one holding on tightly and that’s why this was possible, and the kids were only praising the birds.
The turtle wanted to say, “Not only them, I am also doing something.” So, he said, “Listen!” And the moment he said “Listen!”, because he opened his mouth, he fell to the ground. So, that is the story and the message in the story is…
If they wanted to praise the birds, let them praise the birds. If he had held on firmly with his mouth, he would have gotten to the right place. But because of his arrogance, because he could not tolerate people praising the birds so much, he wanted to say something. Because of that, he fell.
The birds had told him, “Don’t let go of the stick for any reason. Then there is no problem.” The turtle and the birds were not related but the birds were nice to him, telling him to “Hold firmly, otherwise, you will fall. We will not fall.” But the turtle did not listen, and so he fell.
The main teaching of this story is that it is really important to remember to respect words that are said for your benefit.
Respect Words Said for Your Benefit (Demo Rinpoche – Ancient Wisdom. Modern Times. #243 June 1, 2025)