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
Month: November 2025
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… 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
Logotherapy
“It took me a long time and most of the world to learn what I know about love and fate and the choices we make, but the heart of it came to me in an instant, while I was chained to a wall and being tortured. I realised, somehow, through the screaming of my mind,… Continue reading Logotherapy
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
The Invisible Target
–A Japanese Folktale– Once there lived THREE young SAMURAI. Each had their own specialty, their inherent talent. For one it was the sword, for another the spear, and for the third the bow and arrow. One day they decided to travel together and go from school to school to hone their skills further. As they… Continue reading The Invisible Target
Cheating Death
–A Sufi Folktale– Once there lived a very wealthy merchant who had a huge fleet of ships. He belonged to a noble family and was one of the most respected men in the city. Due to his expanding fame and riches, he soon became close friends with the king of the city and then ended-up… Continue reading Cheating Death
True seeking of the Truth
When one thinks about Indian tradition, one would definitely associate it with the rich Sanskrit literature beginning with the Vedas that are believed to have been composed even before 5000 BC. Over many thousands of years, the Vedas travelled orally till it was written down somewhere around 1500BC. It was in Sanskrit that the original… Continue reading True seeking of the Truth
The silent voice of hands
Human beings have strangely failed to recognize the fact that diversity is the most natural way of life. Not everyone is born in the same way and the same rule will not apply to everyone. But we tend to somehow ignore this easy truth and put our effort into “rectifying” and smoothening out the differences.… Continue reading The silent voice of hands