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Monday, July 04, 2005

 

The Wise Men

One series of (non-Guilty Pleasure) books with which I sometimes entertain myself are collections of the short tales of Mulla Nasrudin, by Idries Shah. Here's one I just read (from The Exploits of the Incomparable Mulla Nasrudin), which for a variety of reasons strikes me as singularly apposite:
Nasrudin and the Wise Men

The philosophers, logicians and doctors of law were drawn up at Court to examine Nasrudin. This was a serious case, because he had admitted going from village to village saying: "The so-called wise men are ignorant, irresolute, and confused." He was charged with undermining the security of the State.

"You may speak first," said the King.

"Have paper and pens brought," said the Mulla.

Paper and pens were brought.

"Give some to each of the first seven savants."

They were distributed.

"Have them separately write an answer to this question: 'What is bread?'"

This was done.

The papers were handed to the King, who read them out:

The first said: "Bread is a food."

The second: "It is flour and water."

The third: "A gift of God."

The fourth: "Baked dough."

The fifth: "Changeable, according to how you mean 'bread.'"

The sixth: "A nutritious substance."

The seventh: "Nobody really knows."

"When they decide what bread is," said Nasrudin, "it will be possible for them to decide other things. For example, whether I am right or wrong. Can you entrust matters of assessment and judgment to people like this? Is it not strange that they cannot agree about something which they eat each day, yet are unanimous that I am a heretic?"

Comments:
Hey, thanks for the tip. The nasruddin.org site looks like it's shaping up to be a clever Nasrudinized blend of community, ideas, humor, and commerce. Nasrudinized, as I said. :)

Thanks as well for the compliment on the blog.

I believe a blog I'll be stopping by at from time to time is Anulios. Many wonderful posts and discussions there on "Middle Eastern culture, art, religion, magic and mysticism."

Thanks again!
 
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