Peace and Blessings Everyone
When I was a little girl, I used to buy these books whose protagonist was Mullah Nasrudin, a very funny and wise character. I was totally in love with this character. He made me laugh but there was always something more to the stories.
Today I came across a compilation of stories of this character at WikiBooks.
Mullah, Nasrudin Hoja appears as the whimsical character in a growing tradition of stories. The tales of Nasrudin are sometimes adapted and used as teaching stories by followers of the Sufi way. Some mystic traditions use jokes, stories and poetry to express certain ideas, allowing the bypassing of the normal discriminative thought patterns. The rationality that confines and objectifies the thinking process is the opposite to the intuitive, gestalt mentality that the mystic is attempting to engage, enter and retain.
By developing a series of impacts that reinforce certain key ideas, the rational mind is occupied with a surface meaning whilst other concepts are introduced. Thus paradox, unexpectedness, and alternatives to convention are all expressed in the humor of Nasrudin.
Please add to the tales of Nasrudin and interpretations. It is said, there are as many interpretations as stars in the sky. And when you read a story, see yourself reflected in the story and make your own interpretations rather than relying on others to tell you the meaning of the story. In this way, you will learn for yourself and the usefulness of the story’s teaching will be deeper.
Here are two stories.
Underwater
Nasrudin the diver worked 200 feet under the surface, when suddenly a venerable yogi floated into his range of vision, without any breathing apparatus. “Oh master! What are you doing at such a depth?” wrote the surprised Nasrudin on his writing-slate. The guru snatched the slate and china-pencil, and wrote furiously: “Drowning, you idiot!”
Interpretations
- Humans cannot breathe underwater.
- The simplest explanation is usually the best.
Audience with the King
Nasrudin returned to his village from the imperial capital, and the villagers gathered around to hear what had passed. “At this time,” said Nasrudin, “I only want to say that the King spoke to me.” All the villagers but the stupidest ran off to spread the wonderful news. The remaining villager asked, “What did the King say to you?” “What he said — and quite distinctly, for everyone to hear — was ‘Get out of my way!’” The simpleton was overjoyed; he had heard words actually spoken by the King, and seen the very man they were spoken to.
Funny and thought provoking, don’t you agree. Read more stories here in your spare time.
Later days
Take care
Kind Regards
