Animal life Quote by Wendy Doniger
““The future Buddha was once born as a rabbit, who vowed that he would give his own flesh to any beggar who came to him, in order to protect the beggar from having to break the moral law by taking animal life. To test him, Indra, the Hindu king of the gods, took the form of a Brahmin and came to him; the rabbit offered to throw himself into a fire and roast himself so that the Brahmin could eat him. Indra conjured up a magical fire; when the rabbit—who first shook himself three times so that any insects that might be on his body would escape death—threw himself into the fire, it turned icy cold. Indra then revealed his identity as Indra, and so that everyone would know of the rabbit’s virtue, he painted the sign of a rabbit on the orb of the moon.””
About This Quote
Source Mythology: Hindu Myth of the Moon Rabbit, as recounted in "The Illustrated Encyclopedia of World Mythology", 1995
A rabbit selflessly offers its life to protect a beggar, demonstrating ultimate compassion, and is rewarded with divine recognition.
In simple terms: Selfless compassion is praised and remembered.
Key Takeaway
Practice generosity without expectation.
Themes
compassion
self-sacrifice
divine reward
mythology
ethics
Mood
reverent
inspirational
Type
mythological
teaching
When to use this quote
- teaching children
- ethical discussions
- spiritual practice
- cultural storytelling
Key Concepts
Buddhist symbolism
Hindu mythology
moral exemplars
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we embody selfless compassion today?
- What symbols in our culture teach similar virtues?
A Different Perspective
The story may be interpreted as allegorical, not literal, limiting its practical application.
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