Monkey and the Hyena

Spiritual Story by Anthony de Mello

A monkey and a hyena were walking through the forest when he hyena said, "Each time I pass by those bushes there, a lion jumps out of them and mauls me. I don't know why." "I'll walk with you this time," said the monkey, "and side with you against the lion." So they started to walk past the bushes when the lion pounced on the hyena and nearly mauled it to death. Meanwhile, the monkey watched the proceedings from the safety of a tree that he had run up the moment the lion appeared. "Why didn't you do something to help me?" moaned the hyena. Said the monkey, "You were laughing so much I thought you were winning."