Namaste, Welcome to SAM-VAD (Together In Conversation), as we begin today ‘let us remember this about ‘Attention’.
Our life experience would ultimately amount to whatever we had paid attention to. Attention: is important and most of the times we are so indifferent to it. It is as fundamental as food; and we go blundering about, seeking ways to assuage the craving, instead of learning how to provide ourselves with what we need, sensibly and calmly. We feed the hunger blindly. Once the mechanism is brought to our attention and we begin to study it, it is as if a veil has been stripped off ordinary life, and we become freer in our action and choices.
This week I bring to your attention a tale, which is extracted from an interesting and thought provoking compilation, titled ‘Letters & Lectures of Idries Shah’.
The Men and the Butterfly
Once upon a time, on a hot summer’s day, two tired men who were on a very long journey came to a riverside, where they stopped to rest. Moments later, the younger man had fallen asleep and
– as the other watched – his mouth fell open. Can you believe it when I tell you that a little creature, to all appearances a beautiful miniature butterfly, then flew out from between his lips?
The insect swooped onto a small island in the river, where it alighted upon a flower and sucked
nectar from its cup. Then it flew around the tiny domain (which must have seemed huge to an insect of that size) a number of times, as though enjoying the sunshine and the soft breeze. Soon it found another of its own kind and the two danced in the air, as if flirting one with the other.
The first butterfly settled again on a gently swaying twig; and, after a moment or two, it joined
a mass of large and small insects of several kinds which swarmed around the carcase of an animal lying in the lush green grass… Several minutes passed.
Idly, the wakeful traveller threw a small stone into the water near the little island; and the waves
Which this created splashed the butterfly. At first it was almost knocked over; but then, with difficulty, it shook the droplets from its wings and rose into the air.
It flew, with wings beating at top speed, back towards the sleeper’s mouth. But the other man now picked up a large leaf, and held it in front of his companion’s face, to see what the little creature would do.
The butterfly dashed itself against this obstruction again and again, as if in panic: while the sleeping man started to writhe and groan.
The butterfly’s tormentor dropped the leaf and the creature darted, quick as a flash, into the
open mouth. No sooner was it inside than the sleeper shuddered and sat up, wide awake
He told his friend:
“I have just had a most unpleasant experience, a dreadful nightmare. I dreamt that I was living in a pleasant and secure castle, but became restless and decided to explore the outside world “In my dream I travelled by some magical means to a far country where all was joy and pleasure I drank deep, for instance, from a cup of ambrosia, as much as I wanted. I met and danced with a woman
of matchless beauty, and I disported myself in endless summer. I played and feasted with many good companions, people of all kinds and conditions, natures, ages and complexions. There were some sorrows, but these only served to emphasis the pleasures of this existence.
“This life went on for many years. Suddenly, and without warning, there was a catastrophe: huge
tidal waves swept over the land. I was drenched and I very nearly drowned. I found myself hurtling back towards my castle, as if on wings; but when I reached the entrance gate I could not get in. A huge, green door had been put up by a giant evil spirit. I threw myself against it, pushing it again and again, but it did not yield.
“Suddenly, as I felt that I was about to die, I remembered a magic word which was reputed to
dissolve enchantments. No sooner had I spoken it than the great green portal fell away, like a leaf
in the wind, and I was able to enter my home again and to live thenceforth in safety. But I was so
frightened that I woke up.”
NOW IT IS SAID that you, as you may have guessed, are the butterfly. The island is this world. The things which you like and dislike are therefore seldom what you think they are. Even when your time arrives to go (or when you think about it) you only find distortions of the facts, which
is why this question cannot ordinarily be understood. But beyond ‘the butterfly’ is “the sleeping man’. Behind both of these is the true Reality. Given the right opportunity, ‘the butterfly’ can learn about these things. About; where it really comes from; about the nature of the ‘sleeping man’. And about what lies beyond these two.
Letters & Lectures of Idries Shah
I hope you enjoy reading this compilation and find it thought provoking too. You can buy your copy from any of the bookstores near you or via any on-line portal selling books or also by clicking the following link:
As I conclude today’s episode;
I want to draw your attention to these wise words of a Storyteller which I have extracted from a monumental work ‘Kalila wa Dimna’, which has been inspired from “The Panćatantra”.
My stories require, at this stage, no extra commentary, imaginings, or guesswork by you, me, or anyone else. The very worst would be that of moralizing. To explain away is to forget. Thus, let the stories which you can remember do their own work by their very diversity. Familiarize yourself with them.
Excerpt from Doctor’s orders: Kalila Wa Dimna; Vol.1 – Ramsay Wood
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