• Read the story once. Then move on to another. This manner of reading will give you entertainment; maybe produce a laugh, like a joke.
• Read the story twice. Reflect on it. Apply it to your life. That will give you a taste of theology.
• Read the story again, after you have reflected on it. Carry the story around in your mind all day and allow its fragrance, its melody to haunt you. Create a silence within you and let the story reveal to you its inner depth and meaning. Let it speak to your heart, not to your brain. This will give you a feel for the mystical and you will develop the art of tasting and feeling the inner meaning of such stories to the point that they transform you.
Read on, Dear Reader, read this teaching story BEAUTY and transform yourself:
BEAUTY
Nasrudin bought an old haunted house [a “Bhoot Bangla”] at a desolate place in a nearby hill-station.
From time to time he would suddenly pack his bags, leave the city, and go away to his house in the hill station, disappearing for days, sometimes for weeks, sometimes for months. And just as suddenly as he used to disappear, he used to unpredictably return back to the city, suddenly, without any warning or notice.
When asked the reason for his erratic and whimsical behavior, Nasrudin explained:
“I have kept a caretaker woman up there in the hills to look after my house. She is the ugliest woman - horrible, repulsive, hideous, nauseating. Just one look at her and one feels like vomiting.
When I go to live there, at first she looks horrible. But slowly, slowly, after a few lonely days, she is not so horrible. Then after some more desolate forlorn days, she doesn’t seem that undesirable. And as more and more time passes in lonesome seclusion, a day comes when I start seeing some beauty in her.
The day I start seeing beauty in that horrid woman I escape from the hill-station, because that means enough is enough – I have lived away from the real world for too long - now even this horrible revolting woman has started looking beautiful! I may even fall in love with this ghastly ugly repugnant woman - that's dangerous.
So I pack up my things and rush back to the city.”
Think about it, reflect - isn't it time you logged off your social networking site, switched off your laptop and returned to the real world from the virtual world - to true space from cyberspace.
VIKRAM KARVE
© vikram karve., all rights reserved.
Did you like reading this story?
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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
vikramkarve@gmail.com
© vikram karve., all rights reserved.
Oh, my gosh. I think I got this one on the first read! But what to do when the city keeps crashing in despite the fact that I don't want it?
ReplyDeleteWhat you mentioned in point 3 is something we should do more often. We will be surprised by the beauty of things. I read the story twice and words are now reflecting...Beautiful post!
ReplyDeleteSaru
My first reaction was - he was so mean to that lady. I mean that ugly woman is still a human! But I get the point. It is indeed true that the amount of time we spend on virtual world has surpassed what we spend with real humans. A good reminder!
ReplyDeleteThanks for joining the support group! I look forward to your first post next month.
ReplyDelete