Once long ago in ancient China a magpie was idly sitting in a tree when she spotted something shiny on the ground.

She swooped in to investigate and saw a bright piece of paper. She did not notice the string it was attached to. One tug with her beak, and the door of the trap slammed shut. She was caught. In time she was transferred to a cage hanging in the market, where she was put on display to sing and attract customers.

For many years the magpie sat in her cage, watching the crowd pass by, ever hopefull of a way out. One day she saw an old man walk by. She sat up - he had a face filled with compassion.

"Help me to escape" called the bird.

"Pretend you are dead" said Bodhidharma.

The magpie did so. When the bird's owner looked into the cage and saw the magpie lying still, he opened the door. Without hesitation the bird jumped out and escaped high into the sky. She was free.

Moral: Temporary awakening can occur through insight or suggestion, such as that made to the magpie by Bodhidharma. But only when such trinkets are seen for what they are is permanent avoidance of the cage possible.

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