Painting of Four Harmonious Friends
The four harmonious friends painting can be found in almost any Bhutanese house , monasteries, offices and institutes to bring corporation, peace, protection and harmony amongst office members and family members with a very good outcome.
During the time of Buddha there lived a hermit who was meditating under the tree, one day the four animals who came to fig tree quarrelling for the fruits. He could understand the speech of the animals; it was bird, rabbit, Monkey and elephant. Among them, the bird being clever enough, asked the elephant ‘Since you are physically big and strong when and how you have taken care of the tree ‘
The elephant said ‘it was me who protects the tree from other animals, so I should get the fruit’. The same question was asked to Monkey and Rabbit. Monkey said ‘he was the one who watered the tree and the fruits belong to me’ Rabbit said “It was me who fertilize the tree and so fruit belongs to me’. Finally Bird said ‘ I am the one who have bought the seed and sown it, so I should get the fruit’. So they came to conclusion that since everyone has contributed in growing up the fig tree, each one of them has equal rights to have fruits.
The four animals: Bird, Rabbit, Monkey and Elephant considered being the Buddha and his disciple Ananda, Sariputra and Maudgalyana. They worked together to plant and nurture a fig tree which grows successfully and four friends shared the fruits of their corporation.
It tells the story of how Buddha planted the seed of Buddhism and how Buddha and his disciples nurtured it and helped in flourishing and spreading the Buddhist teachings.
