Once upon a time hundreds of porcupines lived on a snow clad mountain. On one occasion, a very cold breeze began to blow on the mountain. All of the porcupines met and discussed as how to guard themselves from this very cold wind.
They unanimously decided to stand close to each other and protect themselves. But while they were standing together, their individual thorns began to hurt them. So they drifted apart and stood at a distance from each other. Meanwhile, the cold breeze increased in such a great intensity that standing at distance from each other meant that they would have all died. So immediately they decided it is better to put up with the pain and save themselves from death than to stand separately and die. When they did this, all of the porcupines survived.
In life too, often our relatives, friends and neighbours cause pain and suffering. Yet when we put up with this, we have peace of mind. If not, we get ruined.
Translated by : Dr. Sharada Jayagovind
