Cp29 is among the suttas on the perfection of truth. It tells the story of a baby quail that is too weak yet to fly. They were fed by their mother but a forest fire came raging toward their nest, and the mother escaped, leaving the baby quail defenseless.
The baby quail made a declaration of truth which appears to have repelled the forest fire:
Inspired by the power of Dhamma, recollecting the former Victors, relying on the power of truth, I made a declaration of truth.
‘I have wings that do not fly! I have feet that do not walk! Mother and father have left! Fire: go back!’
As I declared this truth the great crested flames withdrew sixteen leagues, as if they had come to water.
As to the lesson of this sutta, in what way did this act develop the truth pāramī? Is it through the shedding of denial (the admission of the baby quail that they were helpless in the face of the fire)? Or something else?
My take is that it is about somebody rememberring the Dhamma in a time of need.
You may learn a lot without being entirely convinced or following through completely, as long as things go as usual. But in a time of crisis, when everything falls apart, you may find the Dhamma ready inside you to save you, by just “turning on the switch”.
Or at least that’s what I make of it. I find this a very encouraging Sutta.
Edit: Also that self-realization of the quail’s miserable condition may mirror the acceptance of the 1st noble truth
