A large apricot tree that was home to a nymph was about to be cut down. The nymph of the tiny grass used her wisdom to help the nymph of the apricot tree evade the danger.

A long time ago in India, there was a man by the name of Anathapindika. He followed the Buddha, and he often donated money to the poor. He was rich and of high rank, but he was also kind and treated all people equally, regardless of their background.

One of his good friends was a slave. At that time, the caste system in India was very strict and slaves belonged to the lowest class. This slave was honest and Anathapindika trusted him very much. But when he asked this slave to manage his property, his relatives and upper-class friends disapproved and told him to stay away from the slave. Anathapindika only replied that all human beings were born equal. However, he was bothered by the stubborn attitude of his relatives and friends, so he went to ask the Buddha for help.

The Buddha praised Anathapindika for his belief in human equality, and then he told him a story.

A long, long time ago, there was a king who had a very beautiful garden in which he grew many rare plants. Among them were some clusters of "fortune" grass that grew very well and swayed serenely in the wind, and also a large apricot tree with lush foliage. Because this tree was the tallest in the garden, it was called the king of trees.

One day a servant reported to the king that one of the palace buildings called the Single-Pillar Hall because only one large pillar supported the roof was very old and might collapse. So the king instructed his carpenters to use the very best wood they could find to replace the pillar.

The carpenters searched through the entire country, but they were unable to find any suitable wood. They finally decided that the apricot tree in the royal garden would be the best choice. The king was very fond of the tree, but the Single-Pillar Hall was a very special building. So after a great deal of thought, the king ordered the workmen to cut the tree down.

People at that time believed that all plants were inhabited by spirits, so the carpenters prepared fruit and other offerings and prayed to the spirit living in the apricot tree: "Our Single-Pillar Hall is about to collapse, so we must cut you down and make you into a pillar. Please forgive us." After their prayers, they left.

When the nymph in the apricot tree heard that her home was about to be cut down, she cried and cried. The nymphs in the other trees shared her sadness, but they did not know what to do.

The nymph of the fortune grass was a good friend of the nymph of the apricot tree. "It is no use for all of us to just keep sighing," she said. "We should think of a way to help." The other tree nymphs were very arrogant and looked down on the nymph of the lowly grass. "Even we can't think of what to do," they said. "How can someone like you be any help?" The nymph replied, "If we just try, we can find a way."

That night, the nymph of the grass called on her insect friends and asked each of them to take a mouthful of soil to the apricot tree. With little bits of soil here and there all over the tree trunk, the whole tree looked as if it had been infested by insects. When the carpenters came with their tools the next morning, they were astonished: "What happened to the tree? Insects have attacked it, so we can't use it." They gave up on the tree and walked away.

The nymph of the apricot tree was grateful. "The other tree nymphs always told me not to be friends with the little nymph of the fortune grass. But when I was in need, only she could help me."

When the Buddha finished the story, he said to Anathapindika: "You are the nymph of the apricot tree and your slave is the nymph of the fortune grass. Situations in life are sometimes good and sometimes bad, but all human beings are equal. Both of you have been helping each other during all your past lives, and you have become good friends. You should truly cherish this friendship."

People normally judge others by their wealth, power or education, and they despise anyone who is in a lower social position. Actually, fame and power cannot last forever, so they are not the real values in life. We should love everyone equally--that is the real life of wisdom.