Introduction

As of late, investigating the media I consumed as a child has captivated me. Interestingly, my most cherished lessons came from kid-friendly versions of the Panchatantra and Akbar and Birbal stories. Contained within books that my family brought back from summer trips to India, these short, cartoon folk tales made an astronomical impact on my (unconscious) moral development.

Below, I narrate my favorite tale, The Lion that Sprang to Life, and present some of my takeaways. Hope you find ways to infuse awareness and compassion into your lives!

In My Own Words

Many years ago, four friends lived in a village. Three of them rigorously studied theological and scientific disciplines. The fourth, named Subuddhi, completely lacked education, and his friends thought of him as a dullard. However, Subuddhi possessed strong common sense and intuitively understood right from wrong.

The learned trio decided to hit the road and monetize their skills one bright spring morning. Reluctantly, they allowed their illiterate friend to join them, pitying him more than anything else. They went On their merry way, skipping from town to town.

On a humid afternoon in the dense forest, the group stopped at a stream to quench their thirst. One of the educated friends spotted a pile of bones next to the river bank and exclaimed, "I believe these bones belong to an animal. Let's test our knowledge and revive the beast." Never hesitant to display his talents, he chanted a mantra - the bones assembled together in the form of a skeleton.

Proudly, he stepped aside, and the second friend approached the animal remains. "Your ability to command these bones impresses me. Now, watch me exceed you," he boastfully remarked. Similarly, he chanted a mantra - flesh filled the skeleton and skin covered it, revealing a dead lion.

Arrogantly, the third friend drew near to the carcass. He proclaimed, "Though it is some feat to assemble bones, flesh and skin into a lifeless body, true power rests in surmounting death. Watch me bring this animal back to life!" Like the two before him, he began chanting a mantra.

However, Subuddhi nervously interrupted, "Friends - consider the dangers of resurrecting a lion! Surely, the animal will eat us as soon as it takes its first breath."

The third friend rebuked Subuddhi, "You fool! What knowledge do you know? What have you learned in this life? Remain silent, and don't interfere with my chance to demonstrate my skills."

Knowing his friends wouldn't heed his warning, Subuddhi begged to climb into a tall, Banyan tree nearby before they resumed. The educated friends, hysterically laughing, granted his request. The third friend continued chanting his mantra - the lion sprang to life. Seeing the three men in front of it, the famished beast immediately devoured them since it hadn't eaten in ages.

From his perch in the tall tree, the sorrowful Subuddhi watched the tragedy unfold until the content lion walked away. Then, he jumped down and returned to his village with a heavy heart.

Moral: Knowledge without common sense is dangerous.

The Need for Compassion Towards Others

As a species, we sometimes judge the opinion of others based on our perceived intellectual standing to them. We're quick to delegate our thinking to those we consider superior and even faster at dismissing input from those we consider inferior. Yet, through which lens do we perceive this difference? With which measures do we confidently assign superiority and inferiority labels? Perhaps, it's a quantitative grade point average or standardized test score. Or, maybe, it's something else like the ability to lock down a high-status occupation. It could very well be some factor I haven't considered, but does that make it right?

Albert Einstein, the renowned theoretical physicist, supposedly said, "Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid." Though the true origins of the quote remain a mystery, its message rings true: perceiving intelligence through one lens potentially inflicts irreparable harm on the fish. Do we only tune into the loud cacophony of those claiming to be experts? Do we tune out the hushed voice of reason and common sense gently trying to nudge us in the right direction? What about the voices of the artist, the athlete and the craftsman - should we listen to them?

Paired with the story's lessons above, I believe the damage radius of such a mistake extends beyond the fish. Edward O. Wilson, a giant in myrmecology, said the following of humanity's real problem,

"We have Paleolithic emotions, medieval institutions and godlike technology. And it is terrifically dangerous, and it is now approaching a point of crisis overall."

Like the three educated friends, we possess knowledge that previous generations couldn't even fathom. However, this understanding could prove fatal in the wrong hands, demonstrating the amoral nature of knowledge. Our individual survival depends on genuine cooperation with other people and harmonious cohabitation with all life on this planet. For us to take the next step in the evolution of our consciousness, we simply cannot afford to bucket each other based on perceived intelligence.

In fact, I believe the essence of compassion roots itself in the ability to celebrate simultaneously all that which makes us unique and identical. It means seeing that we're similarly special geniuses. Applying awareness and compassion to others effectively bridges knowledge and common sense, making it the first step to saving the world.

The Need for Compassion Towards Yourself

As I go about my day, a symphony of thoughts in my head tugs me in different directions. I see a bag of BBQ potato chips - my mortal weakness - while meandering through the grocery store. The voice of common sense gently reminds me to be mindful of my health and encourages me to shuffle over to the fruit aisle. Without warning, the insidious voice of desire starts clamoring and overpowers the voice of common sense. It makes logical arguments such as, "What's one day of eating poorly? You can always be healthy tomorrow." Next thing I know: I'm halfway through the bag of chips and halfway through a movie. Funny how that voice never suggests eating the bag of chips or watching the movie tomorrow...gosh, I wish I exercised today!

Like this Panchatantra tale, there is an internal conversation among friends adventuring together. Knowledgable me, ignorant me, motivated me, lazy me, curious me, silly me and equanimous me (to name a few 😇) jostle for optimal positioning to be that with which I identify during this moment. I suppose learning to balance the various channels of my self appropriately represents a crucial milestone in the quest for living an examined life. Unfortunately, even too much of a good thing can be a bad thing - e.g., working out for 24 hours consecutively, yikes!

Through building a mindfulness practice with the support of my closest friends, I've gotten better at detecting the cadence of the voices trying to hinder me. I've also improved at noticing reason's tranquil tone, which persistently reminds me of the destination where I'm called to go. I'm confident that consistent practice improves my ability to distinguish the signal from the noise. By becoming more aware of my internal mechanics, I've expressed compassion towards myself when I most needed it. Before saving the world, I must save myself. Only on the wings of self-awareness and self-compassion can I fly to greener pastures.

Closing Thoughts

It stands to reason that common sense mediates positive outcomes, internally and externally. I believe a being equipped with awareness, compassion and common sense in its toolbelt can overcome any obstacle. Thus, consciously cultivating common sense currently fascinates me. The next dilemma on this journey: how do I strengthen my common sense muscle? I'll let you know if I find out - please let me know if you figure out the same :)

please check out the sailing manual for helpful guidance! i just updated it 😉