The Esoteric M.A.P. (Metaphors - Analogies - Parables) : Human Gullibility

Source: J. Krishnamurti

You may remember the story of how the devil and a friend of his were walking down the street, when they saw ahead of them a man stoop down and pick up something from the ground, look at it, and put it away in his pocket. The friend said to the devil, "What did that man pick up?" "He picked up a piece of Truth," said the devil. "That is a very bad business for you," said his friend. "Oh, not at all," the devil replied, "I am going to let them organize it."
The Parrot

Source: Vernon Howard

There was once a parrot who trained himself to speak excellently. This enabled him to teach other parrots to speak, for which he was honored and applauded. But he had a secret sorrow. He did not know how to fly. But he devised a clever method for concealing his humiliation. Using his superb command of words, he told other parrots how to fly.

His lectures on flying were a huge success. Thousands assembled each week to hear his dynamic exhortations.

And few of his hearers ever suspected that the parrot himself did not know how to fly.

Lesson: A man seldom realizes that spiritual lessons apply to him personally, thus making him an eager reformer of other people.