HUMOR AND LEARNING - DONKEY WISDOM from a Three in One Mulla Nasrudin Teaching Story

HUMOR and LEARNING

DONKEY WISDOM

A 3 in 1 Mulla Nasrudin Teaching Story

By

VIKRAM KARVE

Here are 3 Mulla Nasrudin Teaching Stories with the “moral” of the stories in blue below each story.

1. HOW TO MAKE A DONKEY RUN FASTER

Once upon a time, long long ago Mulla Nasrudin went to a shipyard.

Seeing a fire, which he had not expected to be associated with the sea, he asked a workman what it was for.

“We make tar,” said the workman, “and cover the cracks in the underside of the boat. That smoothens the surface, reduces friction and makes the vessel go faster.”

Nasrudin went straight home and made a bonfire. 

Then he tied up his donkey and melted some tar in a pan and heated it till it was red hot. 

As soon as he began to apply the flaming red hot tar to the stomach of the donkey, the terrified donkey broke loose and ran like the wind.

“It works all right!” said Mulla Nasrudin to himself as he watched his donkey flee like a rocket and disappear across the horizon.

MORAL OF THE STORY

Don’t we see it happening all around? 

We try to apply the right solutions to the wrong problems and the wrong solutions to the right problems, don't we? 

And this mismatch sometimes ends in disaster.

2. DONKEY BECOMES A MAGISTRATE

Nasrudin’s  donkey did not return for many days. 

An anxious Nasrudin repeatedly kept on asking each and every villager, he asked every one he met, whether they had seen his donkey. 

Fed up with him, they told him to ask the ‘wise man’ who knew the answers to all the questions. 

“Nasrudin,” the wise man said, “your donkey has run off, turned into a man and has been appointed as the Magistrate in the district town.

Thanking the wise man for the information, Mulla Nasrudin trudged to the district town and entered the courtroom. 

There sat the District Magistrate, in all his glory, listening to an important case.

Nasrudin shook his fist at the Magistrate and shouted at him in a loud voice which resonated in the courtroom: “Come home at once, you foolish donkey!”

The Magistrate was furious: “Who are you and how dare you talk to me like that? I am the Magistrate. I’ll have you arrested and sent to jail for contempt of court.”

“Who am I? You dare to ask me who I am? Don't you recognize your Master, you donkey! I am the well-known Mulla Nasrudin from the neighbouring village and you are my donkey.”

“Who told you that I am your donkey?” the bewildered Magistrate asked Mulla Nasrudin.

“The ‘wise man’ in my village told me that my donkey has run off, turned into a man and has been appointed Magistrate in the district town. This is the district town and you are the Magistrate here, so you are my donkey,” Nasrudin said.

“That’s ridiculous. Are you mad? Do I look like a donkey?” the Magistrate said.

Nasrudin drew himself up to his full height and said emphatically: “I prefer to believe the statement of the wise man rather than that of my donkey.”

MORAL OF THE STORY

Sometimes “WHO” said something matters more than “WHAT” is said.

3. LIP SYMPATHY

The Magistrate ordered the police to throw Mulla Nasrudin out of the town.

So Mulla Nasrudin returned to his village distraught. 

He was overcome with grief and broke down and started wailing and crying in the village square that he had lost his donkey.

          

“You may have lost your donkey, Mulla Nasrudin, but you don’t have to grieve over the animal more than you did over the loss of your first wife,” the villagers consoled him.

Mulla Nasrudin looked at the villagers and said: “Ah, but if you remember, when I lost my wife, all you villagers said ‘Don't worry. We will find another wife for you’ - and you did find me another wife to replace the one I had lost. But, so far, nobody has offered to replace my donkey.”

MORAL OF THE STORY

Concrete action to mitigate a loss is more important than offering lip sympathy

Think, Laugh and Have a nice day

VIKRAM KARVE

Copyright © Vikram Karve 2013

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., all rights reserved.

NB:

All stories in this blog are a work of fiction. The characters do not exist and are purely imaginary. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

No part of this Blog may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical including photocopying or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the Blog Author Vikram Karve who holds the copyright.

Copyright © Vikram Karve 2013. All Rights Reserved

Did you like this stories?

I am sure you will like the 27 short stories from my recently published anthology of Short Fiction COCKTAIL
To order your COCKTAIL please click any of the links below:
http://www.flipkart.com/cocktail-vikram-karve-short-stories-book-8191091844?affid=nme
http://www.indiaplaza.in/cocktail-vikram-karve/books/9788191091847.htm
http://www.apkpublishers.com/books/short-stories/cocktail-by-vikram-karve.html

COCKTAIL ebook

If you prefer reading ebooks on Kindle or your ebook reader, please order Cocktail E-book by clicking the links below:
AMAZON
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005MGERZ6
SMASHWORDS
http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/87925

Foodie Book:  Appetite for a Stroll
If your are a Foodie you will like my book of Food Adventures APPETITE FOR A STROLL. Do order a copy from FLIPKART:
http://www.flipkart.com/appetite-stroll-vikram-karve/8190690094-gw23f9mr2o

About Vikram Karve

A creative person with a zest for life, Vikram Karve is a retired Naval Officer turned full time writer and blogger. Educated at IIT Delhi, IIT (BHU) 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 an anthology of short fiction. An avid blogger, he has written a number of fiction short stories and 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  and academic research papers in journals and edited in-house journals and magazines for many years, before the advent of blogging. Vikram has taught at a University as a Professor for 15 years and now teaches as a visiting faculty and devotes most of his time to creative writing and blogging. Vikram Karve 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: vikramwamankarve@gmail.com

Twitter: @vikramkarve

      

© vikram karve., all rights reserved.

KUCH TOH LOG KAHENGE LOGO KA KAAM HAI KEHNA

KUCH TOH LOG KAHENGE LOGO KA KAAM HAI KEHNA

Do you want to be happy?

If your answer is YES then get rid of the Log Kya Kahenge Syndrome.

Your happiness will be in your control and not dependent on the approval of others.

कुछ तो लोग कहेंगे , लोगों का काम है कहना 

Kuch to log kahenge, logon ka kam hai kehna

लोग क्या कहेंगे 

THE LOG KYA KAHENGE SYNDROME 

By

VIKRAM KARVE

If you want to be happy, you must always try and ensure that you live your life in such a way that your happiness is dependent upon things in your control. 

If you live in such a way that your happiness is dependent upon things beyond your control, you will be a puppet in the hands of other people, a slave to external circumstances and you will have to dance to the tune of outside entities.

Similarly, if you are obsessed with seeking approval of others, and are always worried about pleasing others, if you succumb to peer pressure, then your actions will be guided by what other people would think or say, and you will fall victim to the LOG KYA KAHENGE syndrome. 

Close your eyes for a moment, introspect, and ask yourself whether you are suffering from The Disease to Please

If your answer is YES, then it is high time you read this Mulla Nasrudin Story.

MULLA NASRUDIN HIS SON AND HIS DONKEY - A Teaching Story

Mulla Nasrudin and his son were travelling with their donkey.

Nasrudin preferred to walk while his son sat on the donkey.

Soon they passed a group of bystanders, and one of them scoffed, “Look at that selfish boy. The hale-and–hearty young son is riding on the donkey while his poor old father is forced to walk alongside. What disgraceful behaviour? And it is so disrespectful. What a horrible and spoiled child!”

Mulla Nasrudin and his son felt so embarrassed by these comments that they quickly switched places.

Now Mulla Nasrudin rode on the donkey while his son walked alongside.

Soon they passed another group of people. 

“Oh, just look at that, what detestable behaviour!” one of them exclaimed pointing to Mulla Nasrudin, “That poor young boy has to walk while his shameless father rides the donkey. That horrible man should be ashamed of himself for the way he is treating his son. What a heartless father! It is appalling!”

Nasrudin was extremely upset to hear this. He wanted to avoid anybody else’s scorn, so he decided that both he and his son would ride the donkey at the same time and asked his son to sit along with him on the donkey.

As they both rode on the donkey, they passed another group of people. 

“That man and his son are so cruel,” one bystander said. “Just look at how they are forcing that poor donkey to bear the weight of two people. They have no consideration for the hapless mute animal. Cruel merciless scoundrels, that’s what they are!”

Nasrudin heard this and told his son, “I guess the only way we can avoid the criticism of others is for both of us to get down and walk.”

“I suppose you are right,” the son replied.

So they got off the donkey and both of them, father and son, started walking on foot.

But as they passed another group of people, they heard them laughing. “Ha, ha, ha,” the group jeered. “Look at those two fools. They are so stupid that both of them are walking under this scorching hot sun and neither of them is riding the donkey…!Have you ever seen such stupid idiots…? What morons…!”

Whatever Mulla Nasrudin and his son did someone or the other found fault and made fun of them and the criticism and comments of people continued forever, iterating and reiterating, and in the end the exasperated Mulla Nasrudin and his son were finally seen carrying the donkey on their own heads.

And everyone was laughing at Mulla Nasrudin and his Son as they watched the father-son duo carry the donkey on their head…!

So, Dear Reader, the next time you are overcome by the disease to please and feel governed by a desire to seek approval of others for something you want to do and if you feel like pleasing others to the detriment of your own needs, just remember this Mulla Nasrudin story.

Whenever you do something there will be three types of reactions:

1. Some people will praise your actions
2. Some people will criticize your actions
3. Some people will ignore your actions

While it is good to take feedback, you must not be swayed by the opinions of other people because a time may come when your actions will be governed by what other people think and you will fall victim to the disease to please.

Therefore, rather than get swayed by what other people say, it is best to act accordance with your own conscience and do what you feel is best.

Listen to your inner voice, seek your own approval and act in accordance with your own conscience. 

Close your eyes, reflect, and think of instances when you were overcome by the Disease to Please or Peer Pressure or the need to conform. 

When you do something, do you always worry about  “Log Kya Kahenge ... लोग क्या कहेंगे ?”

Why do you succumb to peer pressure? 

Why do you try to conform? 

Why do you crave for the approval of others?

Remember the lyrics of that meaningful song from the movie Amar Prem:

कुछ तो लोग कहेंगे , लोगों का काम है कहना 

Kuch to log kahenge, logon ka kam hai kehna

Moral of the Story:

Never worry about what others will think or say. 

Do not succumb to Peer Pressure. 

Do not fall victim to the Disease to Please. 

Do not try to conform or seek the approval of anyone and everyone.

Seek your own approval - that is the approval that matters most. 

Do what you think is right and you will be happy.

VIKRAM KARVE
Copyright © Vikram Karve 2013
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., all rights reserved. 

NB:

All stories in this blog are a work of fiction. The characters do not exist and are purely imaginary. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

No part of this Blog may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical including photocopying or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the Blog Author Vikram Karve who holds the copyright.

Copyright © Vikram Karve 2013. All Rights Reserved

Did you like reading this story?
I am sure you will like all the 27 stories in my book  COCKTAIL an anthology of Short Fiction.
To order your COCKTAIL please click any of the links below:
http://www.flipkart.com/cocktail-vikram-karve-short-stories-book-8191091844?affid=nme
http://www.indiaplaza.in/cocktail-vikram-karve/books/9788191091847.htm
http://www.apkpublishers.com/books/short-stories/cocktail-by-vikram-karve.html
COCKTAIL ebook
If you prefer reading ebooks on Kindle or your ebook reader, please order Cocktail E-book by clicking the links below:
AMAZON
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005MGERZ6
SMASHWORDS
http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/87925

Foodie Book:  Appetite for a Stroll
If your are a Foodie you will like my book of Food Adventures APPETITE FOR A STROLL. Do order a copy from FLIPKART:
http://www.flipkart.com/appetite-stroll-vikram-karve/8190690094-gw23f9mr2o

About Vikram Karve

A creative person with a zest for life, Vikram Karve is a retired Naval Officer turned full time writer and blogger. Educated at IIT Delhi, IIT (BHU) 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 an anthology of short fiction. An avid blogger, he has written a number of fiction short stories and 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  and academic research papers in journals and edited in-house journals and magazines for many years, before the advent of blogging. Vikram has taught at a University as a Professor for 15 years and now teaches as a visiting faculty and devotes most of his time to creative writing and blogging. Vikram Karve 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: vikramwamankarve@gmail.com

Twitter: @vikramkarve

      

© vikram karve., all rights reserved.

DONKEY WISDOM - Three Stories

DONKEY WISDOM

From Mulla Nasrudin Teaching Stories

By

VIKRAM KARVE

Three Mulla Nasrudin Teaching Stories with the “moral” of the stories in brackets below each story.

Once upon a time, long long ago Mulla Nasrudin went to a shipyard.

Seeing a fire, which he had not expected to be associated with the sea, he asked a workman what it was for.

“We make tar,” said the workman, “and cover the cracks in the underside of the boat. That makes the vessel go faster.”

Nasrudin went straight home and made a bonfire. 

Then he tied up his donkey and melted some tar in a pan and heated it till it was red hot. 

As soon as he brought the smoking red hot tar near the animal, it  broke loose and ran like the wind.

“It works all right!” said Mulla Nasrudin to himself as he watched his donkey flee like a rocket across the horizon.

(Don’t we see it happening all around? We try to apply the right solutions to the wrong problems and the wrong solutions to the right problems, don't we?)

Nasrudin’s  donkey did not return for many days. 

An anxious Nasrudin repeatedly kept on asking each and every villager, every one he met, whether they had seen his donkey. 

Fed up with him, they told him to ask the ‘wise man’ who knew the answers to all the questions. 

“Nasrudin,” the wise man said, “your donkey has run off, turned into a man and has been appointed Magistrate in the district town.

Thanking the wise man for the information, Mulla Nasrudin trudged to the district town and entered the courtroom. 

There sat the magistrate, in all his glory, listening to an important case.

Nasrudin shook his fist at the Magistrate and shouted at him in a loud voice which resonated in the courtroom: “Come home at once, you foolish animal!”

The magistrate was furious: “Who are you and how dare you talk to me like that? I’ll have you arrested and sent to jail!”

“Who am I? Don't you recognize your Master, you donkey! I am the well-known Mulla Nasrudin from the neighbouring village and you are my donkey.”

“That’s ridiculous. Are you mad? Do I look like a donkey?” the Magistrate said.

Nasrudin drew himself up to his full height and said : “I prefer to believe the statement of wise man rather than that of a donkey.”

(Sometimes Status matters more than Truth - “WHO” said something matters more than “WHAT” is said)

The Magistrate ordered the police to throw Mulla Nasrudin out of the town.

So Mulla Nasrudin returned to his village distraught. He was overcome with grief and broke down and started wailing and crying in the village square that he had lost his donkey.

          

“You may have lost your donkey, Mulla Nasrudin, but you don’t have to grieve over it more than you did about the loss of your first wife,” the villagers consoled him.

Mulla Nasrudin looked at the villagers and said: “Ah, but if you remember, when I lost my wife, all you villagers said ‘Don't worry. We will find another wife for you - and you did find me another wife to replace the one I had lost. But, so far, nobody has offered to replace my donkey’.”

(Action to mitigate a loss is more important than offering sympathy)

VIKRAM KARVE

Copyright © Vikram Karve 2012

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., all rights reserved.

Did you like these stories?

I am sure you will like the 27 short stories from my recently published anthology of Short Fiction COCKTAIL
To order your COCKTAIL please click any of the links below:
http://www.flipkart.com/cocktail-vikram-karve-short-stories-book-8191091844?affid=nme
http://www.indiaplaza.in/cocktail-vikram-karve/books/9788191091847.htm
http://www.apkpublishers.com/books/short-stories/cocktail-by-vikram-karve.html

COCKTAIL ebook

If you prefer reading ebooks on Kindle or your ebook reader, please order Cocktail E-book by clicking the links below:
AMAZON
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005MGERZ6
SMASHWORDS
http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/87925

Foodie Book:  Appetite for a Stroll
If your are a Foodie you will like my book of Food Adventures APPETITE FOR A STROLL. Do order a copy from FLIPKART:
http://www.flipkart.com/appetite-stroll-vikram-karve/8190690094-gw23f9mr2o

About Vikram Karve

A creative person with a zest for life, Vikram Karve is a retired Naval Officer turned full time writer and blogger. Educated at IIT Delhi, IIT (BHU) 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 15 years and now teaches as a visiting faculty and devotes most of his time to creative writing and blogging. 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

      

© vikram karve., all rights reserved.