I was considering writing a sequel to the fable "The Tiger that was raised by Goats";
but would it even be correct to do such a thing?
@janton @squirrelbait @justtryme90 have added to the (otherwise internal) conversation, concerning the tradition of Fables presenting a "moral to the story";
justtryme90: A tiger raised by a goat will never be a tiger.
janton: Be true to your own nature if you want to survive.
squirrelbait: What if you're not what you think you are? (what you were raised to believe) What if you're really a strong and powerful tiger!
mrwizardthelizard: Be just what you is, not what you is not; for folks that do this, is the happiest lot.
primal-buddhist: Discover your true self, and be that which you were born to be; to be anything else is to invite folly.
i left out the moral intentionally
and i have encouraged every one who reads (or listens to) the story, to understand that
they actually bring their own morality to it..
That being said Let's try and imagine for a few moments, what might have been the fate of this wretched specimen of a Tiger...
Let us suppose that he returned to the goat herd, and the only Mother he ever knew; the goats would be scared, they just lost another herd member to a Tiger attack, and they are starting to figure out the connection..
If the Tiger continues on living with the goats he is undeniably better off than he was before;
now he knows what he really is, and he can quit trying to eat grass, which made him sick anyway; now he can at least catch and eat small critters throughout the day, and there's always mamma's milk.
He would perhaps feel unfulfilled, and long for a Life
If our furry friend attacks one of the goats when he gets hungry, he will make the kill, they are still close enough, and trusting enough to make it easy...
but that would be the end of any more relations with the goat herd, things would get pretty real after that 1st kill..
He would have to rely on his deep rooted instincts to survive in the jungle; it would not be easy, and any chances of living to a ripe old age among the goats, would be lost, but he would be free to discover his own true nature..
Pros n cons to everything. i reckon.
One thing about this Folk tale rings out loud and clear (at least for me); is that,
Once you have awakened to yourself there is no unknowing, there is only knowing..
The way i see it the Tiger can choose a relatively easy life in at least some kind of denial, or he can embrace his Predatory instincts and Live the rugged hard Life he was born to live...
There is no happily ever after, sorry folks, it's not a disney tale;
but Life is a Tricky Thing;