#313: Mohini the Tigress

In her book, "Radical Acceptance", Tara Brach tells the story of a white female tiger called Mohini who was given to President Eisenhower in 1960 in an exchange of gifts with the Indian Government.

In those days, before more enlightened approaches to the treatment of captive animals, the beautiful and rare tiger was placed in a standard 12 by 12 foot cage in the National Zoo. Day after day, Mohini would pace up and down in her cage tracing a figure of eight for hours on end.

After some years of this, the zoo staff decided that Mohini deserved better. So they built an outdoor wildlife park complete with hills, trees, and pond, just like her native India.

When Mohini was moved from her cage to her new home, she retreated to a secluded corner of the park where she spent the rest of her life, pacing up and down in an area of 12 by 12 foot in a figure of eight.

Moral: Habit and belief often restrict how we think we should be and live, but, in truth, you can break out of your restrictions any time you want.