Book excerpt: Why does a prince give up everything in the search of truth? What can a little squirrel do to help Rama build a bridge across the sea? How does a coat end up becoming a guest at a banquet? This fascinating collection of stories answers these questions and more, while introducing you to the everyday wisdom of ancient scriptures. Handpicked from a range of texts – from the Mahabharata and the Upanishads to the Bible and the Quran, from the Jatakas and Jain parables to Lao Tzu’s teachings – these are tales of wise kings and wandering monks, of ordinary people and their extraordinary deeds, of great escapes and mighty miracles, of clever creatures and foolish gods. Heart-warming, uplifting and sprinkled with gentle wit, these stories will comfort and inspire you every time you read them.