Parables of Wisdom
The Butterfly Net
तितली का जाल · પતંગિયાની જાળ
A new net, a garden full of wings, and a better use for both
- 4 min full story
- 2 min children's telling
- For all ages
Eight year old Arham comes home from a birthday party in Melbourne with a bright green butterfly net and a plan to fill a jar with butterflies. His grandmother does not tell him no. She asks him to watch first.
What it teaches Ahimsa Freedom Compassion
The opening of the children's telling
Arham came home from a birthday party with a present: a bright green butterfly net. "I will catch all the butterflies in the garden," he said, "and keep them in a jar!"
His grandmother, Ba, was sitting outside. "Before you catch one," she said, "will you sit with me and watch them for a little while?" Arham sat down on the step.
Read the whole story See plans
To carry into the day
The kindest way to love a living thing is to let it be free.
To talk about together
What could you do to make your garden, balcony or street a safer place for small creatures?
Retold for JainStory from the traditional narrative and checked against published Jain sources. Details vary between tellings.