In a faraway land, nestled between rolling green hills and tranquil valleys, lived a small bird named Metta. Metta was no ordinary bird; he carried a rare gift within his humble heart—the ability to weave wishes into the world. But this gift came with a condition: for any wish to take root, it had to be spoken 108 times.
Metta lived a quiet life, his plain feathers blending into the branches where he perched. The other forest creatures never suspected the power he held. One day, Karuna, the wise old turtle, approached him. Her name, meaning “compassion,” perfectly matched the kindness she carried within her.
“Metta,” Karuna began softly, “the harmony of our forest is fading. The animals quarrel, avoid one another, and have forgotten how to live as one. I’ve heard of your gift. Can you help restore peace to our home?”
Metta tilted his head thoughtfully. “I can try,” he said. “But the magic of my wishes only works if I repeat them 108 times. To make it truly powerful, I’ll need your help—and the help of all the forest creatures.”
Karuna agreed, and she gathered every animal in the forest—the cautious fox, the timid mouse, the grumpy bear, and even the curious crow. They formed a circle around Metta, their differences momentarily set aside. The small bird stood at the center and began to sing his first wish:
“May I be happy and free from suffering.”
Metta’s voice was clear and steady, repeating the words over and over. As he spoke, the animals felt the wish sink into their hearts. Even the grumpy bear, who usually scoffed at such things, felt a flicker of warmth. When Metta had completed 108 repetitions, he paused and said, “That was the first step. Now, let us wish for each of you.”
Turning to the shy mouse, Metta began again:
“May you be happy and free from suffering.”
As Metta repeated the wish 108 times, the mouse felt something shift inside her. She no longer felt so small and invisible; a sense of lightness began to take root.
Next, it was the fox’s turn, then the crow, then the bear, and so on, until every creature in the forest had received the same wish. Each time, Metta’s voice carried a gentle power, and the animals started to feel a connection to one another they hadn’t known before.
Finally, Metta spread his wings wide and sang for them all:
“May all beings be happy and free from suffering.”
His words soared through the forest like a soft breeze, touching every leaf, every blade of grass, and every living soul. The animals sat in silence, feeling the wish ripple through them. They realized that the words were not just sounds but seeds, planting unity and compassion in their hearts.
From that day forward, the forest was never the same. The animals helped one another, shared their food, and spoke with kindness. Though Metta remained an unassuming bird, his gift was no longer a secret. Whenever disharmony threatened the forest, the animals would remember the 108 wishes and speak them themselves.
For they had learned that true transformation comes through repetition, patience, and an open heart.
Moral of the Story
Wishes can become reality when spoken with intention and perseverance. The magic of words lies not only in their ability to change the world but also in their power to transform our own hearts.