Category: Stories

Tell it to the Walls

A Tamil Folklore A poor widow lived with her two sons and two daughter-in-laws. All four of them scolded and ill-treated her all day. She had no one to whom she could turn and tell her woes. As she kept all her woes to herself, she grew fatter and fatter. Her sons and daughter-in-laws now… Continue reading Tell it to the Walls

What is the mystery of Life and Death?

A Bengali Folklore A young king was stricken with impotence. He became bitter and unhappy. No doctor or medicine could restore to him the pleasures of potency, available even to the poorest man. The sight of beautiful women only made him sick with grief.  One day, word reached him that there is a dervish who… Continue reading What is the mystery of Life and Death?

What Happens When You Really Listen?

A Telugu Folktale There was a villager who was uncultured and stupid. He was married to a very cultured woman. She tried various ways of cultivating his taste for the higher things of life, but he just wasn’t interested. Once a great reciter of the grand epic, the Ramayana, came to the village. Every evening,… Continue reading What Happens When You Really Listen?

How are women represented in Indian Folklores?

A Tamil folktale (A Hair-Breadth Escape) Once upon a time there lived a rich landlord. He was very miserly and difficult, and hence nobody was willing to work for him. Soon he had no labour for tilling his lands or filling up his tanks.  One day, a holy man visited the landlord and heard about… Continue reading How are women represented in Indian Folklores?

The Crying Cherry Tree

A JAPANESE FOLK-TALE Once upon a time there lived a poor woman in a village.  One day as she was praying at the shrine of Lord Buddha a lovely green scarf fluttered down and fell before her. She felt as if she had received Buddha’s blessings. She thanked the Lord and picked up the scarf. … Continue reading The Crying Cherry Tree

Who is a Sufi?

TO BE A SUFI Being a Sufi is to put away what is in your head—imagined truth, preconceptions, conditioning and to face what may happen to you. – [Abu Said] WHAT MUST COME To those who seek truth in conventionalized religion: Until college and minaret have crumbled This holy work of ours will not be… Continue reading Who is a Sufi?

How not to be hopeless?

An Indian Folktale One evening, a merchant was locking the doors of his shop. Suddenly, a young man sprang up from behind and snatched the bag he was holding in his hand that contained the day’s collection from his business.  The merchant as well as some passers-by chased the thief and managed to catch him.… Continue reading How not to be hopeless?

What the Devil said?

Once upon a time there was a Dervish. As he was sitting in contemplation, he noticed that there was a sort of Devil near him. The Dervish said: “Why are you sitting there, making no mischief?” The Devil raised its head wearily and said: “Since the theoreticians and intellectuals have appeared in such numbers, there… Continue reading What the Devil said?

Being grounded

An Indian Folktale Once a FARMER and a CLEVER MINDED person got together to do farming jointly. They acquired some farmland. The farmer BARRICADED it with hedging and tilled it and PREPARED for sowing. Then went to the clever one and asked about the details of sharing the harvest. The clever one said, “I shall… Continue reading Being grounded

Melon and Knife

A Kashmiri Folktale There was a King who had a dream one night – a strange dream.  He saw that there were three things lying in front of him — a watermelon, a knife and a plate. An invisible hand operated the knife, cutting slices of the melon which fell into the plate one after… Continue reading Melon and Knife

The Three Perspectives

A Sufi Folktale There were once three Sufis, so observant and experienced in life that they were known as The Three Perspectives.  One day during their travels they encountered a camel-owner, who said: “Have you seen my camel? I have lost it.” The Three Perspectives in reply started asking questions about the lost camel. They… Continue reading The Three Perspectives

The Location of Paradise 

An Indian Folktale “Sir, is there a paradise?” Vraja, the young disciple, asked the Master for the umpteenth time.  At last the Master replied with another question, “Must you know?”  “Yes, Master, yes!” said the disciple most eagerly.  “Well, my first disciple, Hemchandra, is in paradise,” said the Master and then he closed his eyes… Continue reading The Location of Paradise 

Pathway of the Dead

Nestled within scenic mountains and lush green forests, the state of Mizoram in the North-Eastern region of India, hosts a treasure trove of cultural heritage. Since time immemorial, the people of Mizoram have nurtured customs and habits that represent a distinct world-view. This is a story from that land of Mizoram… A Mizo Folktale Mizo… Continue reading Pathway of the Dead

Ana’l-Ḥaqq

Only His name will remain; He,who is both unseen, and ubiquitous; He,who is both the vision and the beholder.When the clarion call of ‘I am Truth’ will ring out– the truth that is me and the truth that is youAll God’s creatures will rule,those like me and those like you.” Faiz Ahmad Faiz  “Ana al-haqq,”… Continue reading Ana’l-Ḥaqq

Other Lives

A Kashmiri folktale Once there lived a Seeker of the Truth who wanted to know the mystery of Death and the Great Time. For many years, the seeker kept visiting many gurus, scientists, academicians and ashrams.  Then one day, he came across a group of wandering mystic minstrels while walking on the bank of a… Continue reading Other Lives

The One-Straw Millionaire 

A Japanese Folktale Chapter 1 Once there was a young man. He was very poor and didn’t seem to have any luck at all. Though he tried his hand at many things and worked hard, he just couldn’t seem to get ahead.  Finally he decided to test his luck one last time and went to… Continue reading The One-Straw Millionaire 

Changing stories of our life

An Aeshop’s Fable Once a Man and a Lion travelled together through the forest.  They soon began to boast of their respective superiority to each other in strength and prowess. As they were disputing, they passed a statue carved in stone, which displayed “a Lion strangled by a Man”.  The traveller pointed to it and… Continue reading Changing stories of our life

Simplicity

“Good morning,” said the little prince. “Good morning,” said the merchant. This was a merchant who sold pills that had been invented to quench thirst. You need only swallow one pill a week, and you would feel no need of anything to drink. Why are you selling those?” asked the little prince. The merchant said:… Continue reading Simplicity