THE KEY
My Favourite Mulla Nasrudin StoryBy
VIKRAM KARVE
Someone asked me to choose my favourite Mulla Nasrudin story. Well here it is - my all time favourite Mulla Nasrudin Story - The Key
One blistering afternoon, under the blazing sun, people saw Mulla Nasrudin crawling on his knees in the middle of a road in broad daylight frantically searching for something.
The crowd observed him curiously for some time and then an inquisitive man asked him, “What are you searching for, Mulla?”
“I have lost my key” replied Mulla Nasrudin.
Being of a helping nature the man joined Mulla Nasrudin in searching for the lost key and soon there were a large number of people on all fours searching for the elusive key.
An extensive search was carried out but the key was not found, so someone in the crowd asked Nasrudin, “Mulla, do you remember where you lost the key?”
“I lost the key in basement of my house,” replied Mulla Nasrudin matter-of-factly.
“What? You lost the key in the basement of your house?” the astonished crowd asked, “Then why are you searching for the key here in the middle of the road?”
“Because there is more light here,” replied the wise Mulla Nasrudin, matter-of-factly.
This short story is symbolic. Everybody is looking for the key. The key to happiness, the key to bliss, the key to freedom, the key to God, the key to peace, the key to success...everyone is searching for some elusive "key" in the wrong place...
Most of us look for the key outside. The key is sought in power, in success, in relationships, in wealth, in others. Much light seems outside. Very few look for the key within. We must remember that our key was lost within and so has to be searched within.
The concept of teaching stories is embodied in the tales of the inimitable Mulla Nasrudin narrated by Sufis to illustrate aspects of human behaviour which are relevant to both our personal and professional lives.
The first step to self-growth is to try to identify yourself in these stories and to acknowledge that you too could be as foolish or as lacking in discernment as the characters in these classic tales. And then it will be easy for you to imbibe the wisdom in these tales.
Close your eyes and think of this story, reflect, ruminate, carry the story in your mind, identify yourself in the story, create a silence within you and let the story reveal to you its inner depth and meaning.
Which “key” are you looking for…?
The key to happiness, the key to health, the key to bliss, the key to freedom, the key to inner peace and tranquillity, the key to love, the key to God…?
Why are you looking for the key outside when you have lost the key deep inside within you…?
Is it because there is more “light” outside than within…?
Wishing you Enlightenment...!
May you discover your “keys”.
VIKRAM KARVE
Copyright © Vikram Karve 2010
Vikram Karve has asserted his right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 to be identified as the author of this work.
VIKRAM KARVE educated at IIT Delhi, ITBHU and The Lawrence School Lovedale, is an Electronics and Communications Engineer by profession, a Human Resource Manager and Trainer by occupation, a Teacher by vocation, a Creative Writer by inclination and a Foodie by passion. An avid blogger, he has written a number of fiction short stories and creative non-fiction articles in magazines and journals for many years before the advent of blogging. His delicious foodie blogs have been compiled in a book "Appetite for a Stroll". Vikram lives in Pune with his family and pet Doberman girl Sherry, with whom he takes long walks thinking creative thoughts.
Vikram Karve Creative Writing Blog - http://vikramkarve.sulekha.com
Academic Journal Vikram Karve – http://karvediat.blogspot.com Professional Profile of Vikram Karve - http://www.linkedin.com/in/karve
Email: vikramkarve@sify.comFoodie Book: Appetite for a Stroll
A truly enlightening story! :)
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