TWO STORIES - FOOD FOR THOUGHT
By
By
VIKRAM KARVE
My Dear Readers:
Here is one of my favorite stories to mull over:
There was once a great warrior.
His reputation extended far and wide throughout the land and many students gathered to study under him.
Though quite old, he still adept at martial arts and, despite his age, the legend was that he could defeat any adversary.
One afternoon, a young warrior, known for his complete lack of scruples, arrived in the village.
The young warrior had never lost a fight.
Along with his strength, he had an uncanny ability to spot and exploit any weakness in an opponent. He would wait for his opponent to make the first move, thus revealing a weakness, and then would strike with merciless force and lightning speed. No one had ever lasted with him in a match beyond the first move.
The young warrior had heard of the old master’s reputation was determined to be the first man to defeat the till then invincible great master.
The brash young warrior challenged the old master to a fight. Much against the advice of his concerned students, the old master gladly accepted the young warrior's challenge.
All villagers eagerly gathered in the village square to witness the bout.
As the two squared off for battle, the young warrior began to hurl insults at the old master. The young warrior threw dirt and spat in the master’s face and tried his utmost to goad and incite the master to make the first move.
But the old warrior merely stood there motionless and calm.
For hours the young warrior provoked the master. He verbally abused the master with every curse and insult known to mankind and even insulted the master’s ancestors, but the old man kept smiling and remained impassive.
Finally, as the sun started setting, the young warrior started feeling exhausted and humiliated. Gradually comprehension dawned on the young warrior and he knew that he was defeated so he bowed before the master and feeling shamed he left the village.
Disappointed that the master had received so many insults and provocations, the students gathered around the old master and questioned him, “How could you bear such indignity...? Why didn't you use your sword and fight the insolent youth...? It would have been better if you lost the fight instead of displaying such cowardice in front of us all...?”
“If someone comes to you with a gift, and you do not accept it, to whom does the gift belong...?” asked the master.
“To the giver, the one who tried to give the gift,” replied one of his students.
“The same goes for envy, anger and insults,” said the master, “If you do not accept these gifts of abuse, invective and insults, they continue to belong to the one who delivers them...!”
And here is one more story to enlighten you, Dear Reader:
Whenever anyone asked him about Zen, the great master Gutei would quietly raise one finger into the air.
A boy in the village began to imitate this behaviour.
Whenever he heard people talking about Gutei’s teachings, he would interrupt the discussion and raise his finger.
Gutei heard about the boy’s mischief.
When he saw him in the street, he seized him and cut off his finger.
Unable to bear the shock and unbearable pain at his finger being cut off, the boy cried in agony and got so frightened that he began to run away, but Gutei called out to him.
When the boy turned to look, Gutei raised his finger into the air.
At that moment the boy became enlightened.
Best Wishes and Godspeed
Vikram Karve
Did you like these stories?
These are teaching stories but I write fiction too.
I am sure you will like the 27 stories in COCKTAIL
To order your COCKTAIL please click any of the links below:
About Vikram Karve
A creative person with a zest for life, Vikram Karve is a retired Naval Officer turned full time writer. Educated at IIT Delhi, ITBHU Varanasi, The Lawrence School Lovedale and Bishops School Pune, Vikram has published two books: COCKTAIL a collection of fiction short stories about relationships (2011) and APPETITE FOR A STROLL a book of Foodie Adventures(2008) and is currently working on his novel and a book of vignettes and short fiction. An avid blogger, he has written a number of fiction short stories, creative non-fiction articles on a variety of topics including food, travel, philosophy, academics, technology, management, health, pet parenting, teaching stories and self help in magazines and published a large number of professional research papers in journals and edited in-house journals for many years, before the advent of blogging. Vikram has taught at a University as a Professor for almost 14 years and now teaches as a visiting faculty and devotes most of his time to creative writing. Vikram lives in Pune India with his family and muse - his pet dog Sherry with whom he takes long walks thinking creative thoughts.
Vikram Karve Academic and Creative Writing Journal: http://karvediat.blogspot.com
Professional Profile Vikram Karve: http://www.linkedin.com/in/karve
Vikram Karve Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/vikramkarve
Vikram Karve Creative Writing Blog: http://vikramkarve.sulekha.com/blog/posts.htm
Email: vikramkarve@sify.com
Fiction Short Stories Book
Foodie Book: Appetite for a Stroll
© vikram karve., all rights reserved.
© vikram karve., all rights reserved.
My dear dear dear delicious Vikram Karve,
ReplyDeleteI thought I had lost you for ever when your works became so very prolific and so very many links.
But to my delight, I found the one thing that makes me delighted to exist in the same world as you - and that is your inimitable food writings - DO NOT STOP THE GUSTAOTRY EXPOSITIONS.
Do you know how terrifc it is to hear of your foodie exploits - to have someone enjoy unabashedly in the dleighted, bylanes, 6 in the morning nalli nihari (yikes!!!) and more.
You other stories are cute, orgnaizations writings good for those who have strayed away from the country that gave the world Chanakya and the concept of zero - just for starters.
But oh the food writing - it is a must have, so please, in this dreary fog filled day in Boston, where the wretched supreme court of the US has just reduced the Magna Carta to dust - I consoled myself with a small Dunkin Donuts cup of decaf coffee, with a shot of sweet hazelnut, light with cream as they say here and three sugars. Then bought a corn muffin to feed the poor pigeons that have reamined unfed and sokaed for days on end with this brutal Spring rain we are having in May, and then mustered up the love and courage to connect with you.
so cheers good and beloved Sir, from Boston, with a cup of the standard Dunkin Donuts chain coffee and to you, India's emiment food laureate.
Love.
B