The Holy Men and the Snake

A group of holy men was travelling through a forest when they happened upon a snake. Through their mystic insight they realised that the snake was in fact the embodiment of a person being punished for his misdeeds in a previous life. Taking pity on the man/snake they sprinkled him with holy water, chanted incantations over him and freed him from his snake form. The man, grateful for having been freed from his snake body, told the holy men that in his previous life he had inflicted harm on many people. The holy men explained that the cure to his predicament was to not repeat his mistakes. Therefore, when back in his snake form, he must not bite anyone. This would cure his situation and he would soon be free.

The man, back in his snake form, stopped biting anyone. Soon the word got around that there was a timid snake in the forest. The villagers came out and abused the snake. They threw stones at him and hit him with sticks. They pulled his tail and thew him into the bushes.


Some time later the holy men happened to be passing that way again. They found the snake battered and aching on the roadside. They asked him what had happened and he complained that it was their advice which had led to his painful beating.

The holy men replied that although they had told him not to bite, there was no prohibition on hissing!

When they has left, the snake started hissing at his tormentors and he was soon left in peace.

Your Comments / Rating

• Betty Knudson
  Rating 3.5
  I like what you say,however, I want more at the end.
• dianalee
  Rating 4.0
  An excellent Zen Tail.It makes us to
  think about all the sides of an issue.
  We have not to accept any advice without
  thinking.
• peter
  Rating 5.0
  I love this story- My wife loves it too.