Brief Summary
This video tells a story about a crow who is unhappy with his life and seeks to become another bird, believing they are happier. Through encounters with a swan, parrot, and peacock, the crow learns that each bird has its own unique struggles and that true happiness comes from appreciating what one already has. The moral of the story is to avoid unnecessary comparisons with others and to find contentment in one's own circumstances.
- The crow initially desires to be a swan, parrot, and then a peacock, believing each is happier.
- Each bird reveals their own unhappiness, highlighting the grass isn't always greener.
- The peacock envies the crow's freedom, leading the crow to appreciate its own life.
- The story emphasizes the importance of gratitude and avoiding comparisons to find happiness.
The Unhappy Crow
A crow is deeply unhappy with his life, feeling unloved and unwanted. He expresses his misery to a monk sitting under a tree, lamenting that death would be preferable to his current existence. The monk, filled with compassion, advises the crow to find happiness in his present condition, but the crow is unable to understand or accept this advice.
The Monk's Offer
The monk offers to use his mantra to transform the crow into any creature he desires. Overjoyed, the crow asks to become a swan. However, the monk instructs the crow to first seek out a swan and inquire about its happiness before proceeding with the transformation. The monk says he will wait for the crow to return.
Meeting the Swan
The crow flies off to find a swan swimming in a pond. He compliments the swan's beauty and pure white color, assuming it must be the happiest bird in the world. The swan reveals that it is not happy because it lacks the vibrant colors of other birds and considers its white color to be plain. The swan suggests that the parrot must be the happiest bird due to its colorful plumage.
Encounter with the Parrot
The crow then seeks out a parrot, praising its colorful appearance and assuming it must be the happiest bird. However, the parrot reveals that it is unhappy because it is often kept in a cage and lives in constant fear of being captured and confined. The parrot believes that the peacock is the happiest bird because it is even more colorful than itself.
The Peacock's Plight
The crow finds a peacock in a zoo, admired by crowds of people. The crow tells the peacock how beautiful he is and how many people come to see him, unlike the crow who is shooed away. The peacock reveals that he is not happy because he is trapped in the zoo due to his beauty. He is hurt when people pluck his feathers for decorations.
The Crow's Realization
The crow asks the peacock who the happiest bird is if not him. The peacock says that after careful observation, he has realized that the crow is the happiest bird because it is not kept in a cage and people do not try to capture it. The peacock admits that he has been envious of the crow's freedom and wishes he could be a crow to roam freely.
Contentment as a Crow
The crow returns to the monk, now content with being a crow. He tells the monk that he no longer wishes to be transformed into another creature and is happy as he is. The narrator explains that people often make unnecessary comparisons with others, leading to sadness and unhappiness.
The Lesson of Happiness
The video concludes by emphasizing the importance of being happy with what one has, rather than focusing on what one lacks. There will always be someone who has more or less, and constantly comparing oneself to others leads to perpetual unhappiness. True happiness comes from being satisfied with one's own life and circumstances. Comparing yourself to others makes you the saddest person in the world.
