In a certain kingdom, a prince went crazy and imagined himself to be a rooster. He stripped naked, hid under the table and lived there, refusing the royal dishes served on golden dishes. He ate only the grain stored for the chickens.
The king was in despair. He looked for the best doctors, the most famous scientists for his son, but everything was to no avail. Spellcasters, monks, hermits and miracle workers tried in vain.
And then one day an unknown sage appeared before the king
“It seems to me that I could heal the prince,” he said, “let me try.”
The king agreed. And then, to everyone’s amazement, the sage, throwing off his clothes, climbed under the prince’s table and began to crow.
- Who are you and what are you doing here? - exclaimed the young man.
- And you? - asked the sage. -Who are you and what are you doing here?
- Don't you see? I am a rooster.
“Hmm,” the sage was surprised, “strange!”
- What's strange about that?
“It’s strange that you don’t see that I’m a rooster like you.”
They became friends and vowed never to part. And then the sage began to treat the prince. He started by putting on his shirt.
The prince was amazed:
- You're crazy! Forgot who you are? Have you really decided to become a human?
“You see,” the sage objected gently, “you shouldn’t think that a rooster dressed like a man ceases to be a rooster.”
Tom had to agree. The next day both were dressed.
The sage sent for dishes from the palace kitchen.
- Unhappy! What are you doing? - exclaimed the frightened prince. “Aren’t you going to eat human food?”
A friend dispelled his doubts:
- Never think that sitting at a table with a person and sharing his meal, a rooster ceases to be himself. Is it enough for a rooster to behave like a human being to become a human?
In this world, you can behave like a real person and still remain yourself, that is, a rooster.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru