caused the suspicion of some powerful chief to fall upon me, and be will throw me into prison." Therefore he made his escape without knowing where he was, or seeing his father.
Then the father sent other servants after him, who, having caught him, brought him back. And the father commanded all to deal kindly with the son; and he was given work to do, and also a teacher was employed to instruct him. And the son became pleased with his lot.
From the window of his palace the father watched the son; and as he saw him industriously laboring, he promoted him to higher and higher duties; and at last he sent for him, and disclosed to him who he was. And the son was exceedingly glad, and filled with joy.
Thus it is that little by little are our minds trained to receive the truth.
THE PARABLE OF THE FISH.
There was a certain bhikkhu (monk) who had great difficulty in holding his passions under control. Therefore he resolved to go back to the world, and came to the Buddha, asking to be released from his vows. And the Buddha said to him:
"Fall not a prey to thy passions. In former existences thou hast suffered from the consequences of lust, and unless thou canst control thy sensual desires, thou wilt, in this life, be ruined. Listen to the story of another existence of thine, when thou wert a fish:"
