Remember those countless fairy tales and panchatantra stories (animal Fables), we have grown up to hearing in our childhood days, they are still very interesting. Animals were given a lot of importance in our culture from ancient times. In Hindu mythology every God has an animal serving as a conveyance. In Yoga, a lot of Kriyas and Asanas are performed by the mimicking the actions of various animals. This shows, how deeply our ancestors observed and learned from the animal behavior and valued them. Human is no doubt the supreme creation of God and one of the qualities that differentiates it from the other creations of God is it's power to think and learn by observing others. In modern times, scientist have also studied the animal behavior to predict earthquake events. I was recently going through a article on Chanakya (200-300 BC) , the father of political science , whose lessons are still valid and being followed across by most management Gurus today. Incidentally, I found a chapter where a lot of Chanakya’s lessons were based on the learning by observation of animal behaviors. In fact, he was a great worshiper of nature and belived that everything that is prersent in this world has a reason to be here. This was again an example of great power of observation and sense of watchfulness by Chanakya. I have jot down few lessons from the Chanakya Niti:
Learn one thing from a lion; one from a crane; four a cock; five from a crow; six from a dog; and three from an ass.
§ The one excellent thing that can be learned from a lion is that whatever a man intends doing should be done by him with a whole-hearted and strenuous effort.
§ The wise man should restrain his senses like the crane and accomplish his purpose with due knowledge of his place, time and ability.
§ To wake at the proper time; to take a bold stand and fight; to make a fair division (of property) among relations; and to earn one's own bread by personal exertion are the four excellent things to be learned from a cock.
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§ Contentment with little or nothing to eat although one may have a great appetite; to awaken instantly although one may be in a deep slumber; unflinching devotion to the master; and bravery; these six qualities should be learned from the dog.
§ Although an ass is tired, he continues to carry his burden; he is unmindful of cold and heat; and he is always contented; these three things should be learned from the ass.
Two missing qualities of a dog seem to be his ability to eat a lot and fall asleep easily.
He who shall practice these twenty virtues shall become invincible in all his undertakings.
