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.
Arguing about Nothing
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