- a Sai story -
There once was a forest with a large number of animals. In this forest there
all types of animals, lions, elephants jackals, dogs, the whole animal
kingdom was present there. One day a clever fox thought to himself, "Human
beings boast that there is something special and unique about human nature.
They say that it is next to impossible to get human birth. But human beings
are born the same way that we animals are born from the womb of a mother.
The question is: Why is man given the name Manava [Sanskrit for man, an
individual with no trace of ignorance, ed.], instead of being called Jantu
[born from the womb of a mother, ed.]? In what way are we inferior to him?"

The fox though out, within himself, all the various arguments and
counter-arguments to this question that was perplexing him, and he resolved
to prove that there is no distinction between human beings and animals. He
sought out other animals and said, "Why should we accept the present status
of affairs? People are considering animal life inferior to human life. We
should take steps to reverse this erroneous belief." In this way he began to
encourage all the animals living there to think about the issue and get
excited about it. The fox resolved to have a very big meeting of the animals
to discuss these points and frame some resolution on which they could all
agree. The "Chatushpada Mahasabha" was the name proposed for this meeting,
meaning "The great gathering of the four footed ones".

Initially, three agenda items were agreed upon. The first was that human
beings, just like animals are born from the womb of a mother; therefore
there should be only one name, both for men and animals. And, properly
speaking, that name should be Jantu, one who is born from the womb of a
mother. Either man should be called Jantu, or animals should be called man;
but not two different names and two different titles.

The second agenda item was that animals had been called unwise, while humans
claim to be endowed with wisdom; but animals should not accept this. The fox
was particularly insistent on this point. He asked, "What is this wisdom
that man has, that we do not have? We have to firmly resolve that there is
the same wisdom in both men and animals."

The third agenda item that the fox proposed, was, "Man is considered to be a
talking animal whereas we are dumb; that is considered to be a very great
disadvantage to us, which they claim makes a big difference. But even if we
are dumb, what is it that we are lacking? By having learned the ability to
talk and by possessing that skill, what is the extraordinary happiness that
man has derived from that? Let us propose that talking and dumbness be
considered more or less the same." 

Then there is also a fourth point we should consider," the fox added. "Human beings think of us as being Rajasic
[angry, greedy, hating others, ed.] whereas they consider themselves to be
Satvic [pure, good and pious, ed.] in nature. But none of us should agree to
this. The Satvic nature that we have, even man does not possess. We deserve
the reputation and recognition that we are far superior in Satvic nature to
humans." They all agreed that these four points should be discussed in the
meeting. But then they wondered whom they should ask to preside over their
meeting.

The fox pointed out that there were a number of Rishis [seers of truth, ed.]
and Mahatmas [great souls, ed.], who had been doing penance in the forest.
"We should select a very highly accomplished sage to preside over our
meeting", he suggested. They all agreed and resolved to send the fox to find
a Maharishi and request him to chair their meeting. The fox went to a cave
and there he saw a sage engaged in penance. He reverentially approached the
sage and prayed to him, "Swami, in the kingdom of animals we have decided to
have a very important meeting, a Chatushpada Mahasabha, and we request you
to preside over it." The Rishi who recognized everything as living divinity
itself, said, "All right, I will be happy to come and preside over your
meeting." So, in a vast open field they arranged to have their meeting.
Full of fearlessness

In that forest, every animal from the smallest to the biggest came with all
their children, and many brought their grand children also to attend this
important meeting. The Maharishi presiding over the function, with the lion
sitting next to him, was not the least bit afraid as he recognized the
existence of God in every living being, therefore he was full of
fearlessness. The secretary for this great meeting was the fox and he began
his welcoming address.

"Reverend president, your excellency the king, honored minister, dear
brothers and sisters! This day is a day which will be written in golden
letters in the annals of this great forest and all its inhabitants, for
today we will achieve a grand success in this most important meeting for
which we have all assembled here. You have all made some notable sacrifices,
you have given up a great number of activities, and have made time available
in your busy lives to participate in this meeting. So, in the very first
place, let me express my deepest gratitude to all of you." Then the
secretary went on and explained the items on the agenda. As soon as the
agenda had been presented, the lion got up and addressed the vast gathering.
He told them, "You have all heard what my brother has said to you. I want
you to know that the great qualities you have like valour and courage, man
does not really have. I am myself direct proof of this. Though I am king of
animals, I never take any wrong or unjustifiable actions. Without reason I
don't kill animals. Only when I am hungry will I take a little food. I don
not kill any animals for sport; I never waste any food. Consider our
courage, our code of ethics, our high level of morality; can we find such
great qualities in human beings? No! They don't have them at all. Therefore,
why should we be afraid of human beings? Why should we be thought of as
inferior? Today, let us resolve to wipe out this blot on our reputation."
The elephant, who was just sitting by the side of the lion got up and said,
"A human being is not even half as big as my leg. In form I am certainly
mighty and magnificent. In intelligence I have attained proverbial
greatness. Kings, emperors, distinguished leaders, all have developed great
faith in me. When I am so great, how can you say that man is superior to me?
My intelligence is extraordinary. Therefore, even if you consider just these
two, my intelligence and my physical form, you must conclude that man can
never be equal to me."

Quality of loyalty

The fox got up and said, "The lion, our Maharaja, has just talked to you,
and the big elephant, our distinguished minister, has also spoken his mind.
Now we would like to invite a representative of the smaller animals to come
and address us." At this point the wild dog was asked to speak to the
gathering and it said, "Although I am very small and weak, in faith there is
no one that can be compared to me. I have unswerving faith and unlimited
loyalty to the person who has brought me up, and who looks after me. I will
always be grateful and faithful, even if I lose my life. Even if I am hurt
and harmed by my master I will not return harm to him in kind. Everyone
knows that human beings do not have this sense of loyalty which a dog has.
In this quality of loyalty I can never be considered inferior to man. Man
often resolves to give troubles to the one who has most lovingly taken care
of him and guided him, such as his master or his own parents. Man will think
nothing of doing bad in return for the good which is given to him. He will
criticize and concoct schemes to deceive and hurt the very one who has
looked after him so carefully. Man does not have any gratitude at all. He
does not have any loyalty. Only so long as his purpose is being served will
he pretend to be obedient. The moment his own selfish interests have been
taken care of he starts troubling his own master. When man is like this how
can we be considered inferior to mankind?"

In this way, one by one, others got up and had their say. Appropriate to
their status and experience, they gave speeches, extolling the many fine
qualities practised by the animals but which were being ignored by man.
Finally, there was the speech of the president. The Rishi addressed the
gathering, "Dear animals. All that you have just spoken of is true. All the
defects that have been pointed out here are certainly true and present in
man. As for food, sleep, breathing and such things there is absolutely no
difference between human beings and animals."

The Rishi continued, "I do want to point out, however, that there is one
specialty in human beings that is unique, in which they cannot be compared
with the animals. Animals may inherit a streak of cruelty; once they have
acquired that they cannot change it. A tiger, however hungry he may be, will
not eat rice and vegatables. He only aspires to have mutton. He will not
settle for just a little tea and cookies. However much he may try to change
his habits, he will not succeed. On the other hand, if sufficient efforts
are made by humans, they can change their cruelty and they can change any of
their bad habits. The most important difference between humans and animals
is that humans, with effort, can bring about a complete transformation in
themselves, whereas animals will not be able to accomplish that. These
special capacities and skills for transforming themselves are only available
to human beings."

Do they deserve the high status?

The fox got up and said, "Swami, we will concede that human beings have
these special capacities, but if they do not make use of these capacities,
do they deserve the high status that they now enjoy?" The president
declared, "If anyone has the capacity to change himself but does not use it,
then he is much worse than an animal." At this all the animals burst into
loud applause. The Rishi added, "What is the use of all the learning that
man accumulates? Will it change his faith? As soon as bad thoughts enter his
head, his thinking becomes dull and he becomes an idiot. In learning humans
have attained a high status. But all this learning is only for the sake of
getting some bread: they use it only to fill their bellies and to eke out a
livelihood."

At this point the fox got up and added to what the president had just said,
"In the process of eking out his livelihood, man uses all kinds of unethical
means. In this area, it is clear that we animals are much better than human
beings." The fox got carried away by his own rhetoric; he continued for some
time on the same theme. "We are always fair in gaining our livelihood. In
all respects, when compared to man, we are far better. Really, we are the
best!" He got an enthusiastic ovation from the whole four-footed assembly.
But now the fox had exceeded his limits and the president pounded the gavel
and called for order.

At this point, the Rishi explained the second major difference that make
human beings unique. He said, "Man has been able to conquer Maya, that is,
illusion. Once he has done that he is able to experience Atma [the real
self, one's divinity, ed.], and then he can reach the state of Nirvana
[state of mind in perfect equilibrium, ed.]. This is a vital difference
between humans and animals.

If man takes the trouble and makes the effort, he will be able to directly
experience the Atma. With the help of spiritual exercises he can reach
Nirvana. All these you animals do not have." The Maharishi added, "Dear
children, in the English language, human beings have been collectively
called mankind, using the generic term, M-A-N. The same is given in Sanskrit
as 'Manava'. The inner significance of M-A-N is that human beings can
separate out and remove this illusion, [M]aya; they can get the vision of
[A]tma, and immerse themselves in wisdom and joy, in the state that is
called [N]irvana. This, then, is the meaning conveyed by these letters
M-A-N. So, a true human being is one who has removed the ignorance of Maya,
who has had a vision of Atma, and who has become merged in the supreme state
of bliss."

Great capacity for wisdom and bliss

When the Rishi had finished, all the animals bent down their heads and
agreed that these three are things they could not achieve. But then the
question was raised, "Have all human beings been able to attain this?" "No!"
came the answer. "Only very few." "Those people who do not make any effort
at all in these directions are just like us and there is absolutely no
reason for distinguishing them from the animals", they decided. The
Maharishi agreed. He said. "Although humans have this great capacity for
wisdom and bliss, they have not developed themselves in this direction and,
therefore, they have not been able to derive much joy from their lives."

Then, on a personal note, the president explained the reasons why he had
come into the forest to live. He said, "Man does not care much about these
noble qualities. Animals give trouble only to those who give them trouble;
otherwise they will live in peace with each other. But man hurts those who
do not hurt him at all. Without any reason he begins to blame and foment
trouble, harming people who are unblemished and who have given him no cause
for provocation. Man also enters into all kinds of improper work which he
has no right to be engaged in." He concluded, "It is for these reasons that
the Rishis have given up the company of men and have gone into the forest to
live. Man is becoming increasingly selfish, whatever he says, whatever he
does, whatever he thinks, is full of selfishness. Animals do not have such
selfishness. Animals are not harming other animals and accumulating wealth.
Therefore, in many ways human beings behave even worse than animals."