Once, an elephant lived in a king’s palace. Every day, a huge quantity of food was served to him. A weak and poorly fed stray dog also lived in the neighbourhood. One day, the dog sneaked into the shed where the elephant was eating his meal. The dog started to eat the food-crumbs scattered on the ground. The elephant did not mind, the dog, as he was very small. He felt metta bhavana (loving kindness) for all animals. The dog continued to go to the shed to have food. He soon became big and healthy. Now, he was not scared of the elephant. The elephant, too, was not bothered by the dog, as the dog never barked. The two became friends. However, one day, the dog went missing. The elephant missed his friend. He gave up eating and became weak. The king ordered that the dog be found. When the dog returned, the elephant regained his strength.
Moral: True friendship dissolves all differences
