For centuries, animal tales have been used to entertain children around the world. In the West we have Aesop's fables, and in the East there are the famous Panchatantra and other tales. The timeless wisdom of these stories instills in each new generation the moral and spiritual values of community life. As a young girl, Gurumayi grew up hearing these magical stories, and "The Great Hiss" was one of her favorites. As the blessed year 2001 is the Chinese Year of the Snake, it is a fitting time to tell the tale of a snake called Long Fang!
Through her delightful retelling of this classic Indian fable, Gurumayi trans-ports us to Long Fang's world in the Indian countryside. We are moved to laughter and tears at the fate of this arrogant snake who transforms from town bully into a practitioner of nonviolence.
Long Fang's journey begins when he meets a loving monk named Swami Madhavananda, who shows him that being gentle doesn't mean becoming a doormat for others. Rather, gentleness has a strength and integrity all its own, the power to create harmony in the world. Through this children's tale, Gurumayi teaches us all how to navigate the waters of human existence how to practice nonviolence without forgetting when and how to hiss.
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