Parables of Wisdom
The Honey Drop
मधुबिंदु · મધુબિંદુ
A man in great danger, and the one sweet drop that made him forget
- 4 min full story
- 2 min children's telling
- For all ages
A lost traveller, chased by a wild elephant, ends up hanging over a deep well. Danger surrounds him on every side, yet a single drop of honey holds all his attention. This ancient parable is one of the best known pictures of human life in Jain teaching.
What it teaches Non-attachment Awareness Wise choices
The opening of the children's telling
Once a man was walking in a big, dark forest. Suddenly a huge elephant came running at him! The man ran too, and he jumped into an old well to hide.
Inside the well, he caught hold of some roots and held on tight. Down at the bottom he saw snakes. Up at the top, the elephant was still waiting. Two little mice, one white and one black, were nibbling at the roots he was holding. And some bees were buzzing around him.
Read the whole story See plans
To carry into the day
Enjoy the sweetness of life, but do not let one more drop keep you from what truly matters.
To talk about together
What is a 'honey drop' in your life, something small that can make you forget more important things?
Retold for JainStory from the traditional narrative and checked against published Jain sources. Details vary between tellings.