A Kashmiri folktale One day a dissatisfied fellow was sitting under a walnut tree, and his eyes fell on a great pumpkin growing nearby. He thought: “Nature is so foolish. It had to give such small nuts to this big walnut tree and such immense fruits to this thin plant! Now if pumpkins were growing… Continue reading How to be wise?
Tag: wisdom
How half-knowledge can mislead us?
An Urdu Folktale A man from the city of Kabul in Afghanistan once visited India. Walking along an Indian street, he came to a sweatmeat shop where all sorts of sweets were neatly displayed. Now the man knew only one or two words of Hindustani. He went up to the vendor of sweets and pointed… Continue reading How half-knowledge can mislead us?
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
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
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