Wednesday, August 24, 2011

REAL WISDOM and FAKE WISDOM


REAL WISDOM and FAKE WISDOM
A Mulla Nasrudin Story
By
VIKRAM KARVE

I love to teach. I have encountered two types of students - those interested in learning and those interested in marks. This second category of examination-oriented students would often say that I taught beyond the syllabus and what was the use of all this knowledge from the examination point of view. To these students I would often narrate this classic Mulla Nasrudin story. 

A disciple interrupted Mulla Nasrudin’s sermon on teaching stories and rudely said, “You are talking all nonsense. I cannot understand head or tail of what you are saying. And your so-called “teaching stories” are at best poor jokes – they don’t make sense or have any meaning.”

Mulla Nasrudin calmly removed the diamond studded gold ring on his finger, politely called the man, gave him the ring and told him, “ Go outside to the roadside stalls and ask them the cost of this ring - for how much will they will buy this ring. I want to sell it – the minimum price is One Lakh Rupees. Don’t sell it for less than a lakh of rupees.”

The disciple returned after some time and angrily said, “You have made me a laughing stock. No one is prepared to pay One Lakh Rupees for this ring. They say this ring is not worth more than ten rupees.”

Mulla Nasrudin then told the man, “Now go to the best jeweller in town and ask him.”

After some time the man returned dumbfounded: “Mulla Nasrudin, I just can’t believe it – the jeweller paid Rupees Two Lakhs for your ring.” 

Mulla Nasrudin looked the man in the eye and said, “Just as only a good jeweller can understand the true value of my ring, only the truly wise can understand the true meaning of my teaching stories. Yes, only the truly wise can distinguish between real wisdom and fake wisdom!”


VIKRAM KARVE
 
© vikram karve., all rights reserved.

Did you like this story? I am sure you will like the stories in my recently published book COCKTAIL comprising twenty seven short stories about relationships. To know more please click the links below:

Do try out this delicious, heady and exciting COCKTAIL

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 he is currently working on his novel. 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. 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. 

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