佛教故事:Prince Goodspeaker and the Water Demon
They did not know that the beautiful dark blue lake was possessed by a water demon！ He was permitted by his demon ruler to eat any beings that he could convince to go into the water. There was also one condition. He could not eat anyone who knew the answer to the question， "What is the teaching of the gods？"
When Prince Sun arrived at the shore of the lake， being dry and dirty and tired， he went directly into the water without any investigation. Suddenly the water demon rose up from under the water and captured him.
He asked him， "What is the teaching of the gods？" Prince Sun said， "I know the answer to that！ The sun and the moon are the teachings of the gods." "You don't know the teaching of the gods， so you belong to me！"， said the water demon. Then he pulled Prince Sun under the water and locked him up in a deep cave.
Since Prince Sun was delayed， Prince Goodspeaker asked the second brother， Prince Moon， to go down to the lake and bring back water in lotus leaves. When he got there， he too went directly into the water without examining. Again the water demon appeared， grabbed him， and asked， "What is the teaching of the gods？" Prince Moon said， "I know the answer to that！ The four directions North， East， South and West these are the teachings of the gods." "You don't know the teachingof the gods， so you belong to me！"， replied the water demon. Then he locked up Prince Moon in the same under water cave with Prince Sun.
When both his brothers did not return， Prince Goodspeaker began to worry that they might be in some danger. So he himself went down to the beautiful dark blue lake. As he was a wise and careful person， he did not go directly into the water. Instead， he investigated and saw that there were two sets of foot prints leading into the lake but not coming out again！ To protect himself， he go this sword and bow and arrows ready. He began to walk around the lake.
Seeing that this prince did not go straight into the lake， the water demon appeared to him disguised as a humble villager. He said to him， "My dear friend， you look tired and dirty from much walking. Why don't you get into the water and bathe， drink， and eat some lotus roots？"
Remembering the one-way footprints， Prince Goodspeaker said， "You must be some kind of demon disguised as a human！ What have you done with my brothers？" Surprised at being recognized so quickly， the water demon returned to his true ferocious appearance. He replied to the wise prince， "By my rights， I have captured your brothers！"
The prince asked， "For what reason？" "So that soon I can gobble them up！"， the demon answered， "I have permission from my demon ruler to eat all those who go into' this lake who do not know the teaching of the gods. If anyone does know the teaching of the gods， I am not allowed to eat him."
The Prince asked， "Why do you need to know this？ What is the advantage to a demon like you， to know the teaching of the gods？" The water demon replied， "I know there must be some advantage to me." "Then I will tell you what the gods teach，" said Prince Goodspeaker， "but I have a problem. Look at me. I am covered with dust and dirt from traveling. I cannot speak about wise teachings in this condition."
By now， the water demon realized that this prince was especially wise. So he washed and refreshed him. He gave him water to drink from lotus leaves， and tender lotus roots to eat. He prepared a comfortable seat for him， decorated with pretty wild flowers. After laying aside his sword and bow and arrows， the Enlightenment Being sat on the adorned seat. The ferocious demon sat by hisfeet， just like a student listening to a respected teacher.
Prince Goodspeaker said， "This is the teaching of the gods：
You should be ashamed to do unwholesome deeds. You should be afraid to do unwholesome deeds. You should always do wholesome deeds ——that bring happiness to others， and help mankind. Then you will shine with the inner light of calm and peacefulness."
The water demon was pleased with this answer， and said， "Worthy prince， you have completely satisfied my question. You have made me so happy that I will give you back one of your brothers. Which one do you choose？"
Prince Goodspeaker said， "Release my younger brother， Prince Sun." To this the demon replied， "My lordprince， wise one， you know the teaching of the gods but you do not practice it！" The prince asked， "Why do you say that？" The demon said， "Because you leave the older one to die， and save the younger. You do not respect elders！"