Once upon a time, a lion and a tiger lived together as close friends in the shade of a rock. They had been friends since they were too young to know their differences. Their peaceful home in the mountains was perhaps influenced by a gentle forest hermit who lived nearby.
One day, they fell into a foolish argument. The tiger claimed, "Everyone knows the cold comes when the moon wanes from full to new!" The lion retorted, "Nonsense! The cold comes when the moon waxes from new to full!"
The dispute grew heated. Neither could convince the other, and they even began to insult each other. Fearing for their friendship, they decided to seek wisdom from the learned hermit.
They visited the peaceful monk, bowed respectfully, and presented their question. After some thought, the hermit replied, "Cold can come during any phase of the moon. It is the wind that brings the chill, from any direction. So, in a way, you are both right, and neither is defeated. The most important thing is to live without conflict and remain united. Unity is best."
The lion and tiger thanked the wise hermit and were happy to remain friends.