Garland of the Buddha's Past Lives (Volume 2). Aryashura

thousands of geese, it is as if they have arrived to illuminate the waters.”

      22.50

      The king then sought out a fowler who was widely renowned for his fowling skills and eagerly ordered him to capture the geese. The fowler consented and, after duly ascertaining the feeding ground and nesting area of the birds, he laid down various strong and concealed snares.

      The geese had become so trusting that they had lost all fear of danger. And so it was that, one day, when the geese were roaming around, elated with joy, the king of the geese caught his foot in one of the traps.

       22.52 [24] 22.53 22.53 22.53 22.53 22.53

      Subtle confidence-inspiring strategies

      make people forget to fear danger.

      So trust only brings disaster,

      causing heedlessness and imprudence.

      To stop any other geese from suffering the same misfor­ tune, the Bodhi·sattva uttered a special cry to announce that the lake was dangerous. The geese were distraught that their king had been snared and, paying no heed to one another, they flew into the sky, uttering shrill and hysterical shrieks out of fear, like soldiers when their leader has been killed. But Sumukha, the general of the geese, did not move from the king’s side.

      Hearts bound by love do not

      consider losing their own life.

      For the misery of a friend’s suffering

      pains them more than losing their life.

      The Bodhi·sattva responded to this by saying to Sumukha:

      22.55

      “Go! Go, Sumukha!