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 favourite tale used by Balkan dervishes, which is extracted from an interesting and thought provoking work, titled ‘Caravan of Dreams’ compiled by Idries Shah.
The tale narrated here was in response to the following question:
‘Which of the Paths is the best of Paths, and why is it that there are so many bodies of earnest people surrounding institutions teaching enlightenment?’
The Bees and the Hollow Tree
‘Once upon a time there was a forest, which sprouted from seedlings, which grew into trees. These trees lived until their appointed time, giving fruit, shelter and a livelihood to many creatures. Then, for a good reason, their task completed, the trees died, and the forest became lifeless. Lifeless, that is, except for a number of bees, which were looking for a home, and looking for a place to build up corporate life. They found that many of the dead trees were hollow, and in them they built their hives.
‘The trees served well enough for many generations of bees. Then, one by one, in the normal course of decay, the trunks began to fall. Those bees who were still in solid enough trees pointed to their less fortunate fellows, saying:
“Look how wicked they are! This is a punishment for them.”
Others said, about them and others:
“Let us bring them to our hives for they are destitute and should be helped. This might have happened to us, after all.”
Yet others said: “How useless were their hives , that they collapsed like that. Let us take care that ours do not follow.”
But, in spite of what they said, little by little , the trees all fell, and all the bees were tendered homeless, at different times.
The bees thought about things in an obvious way. Many of them did not realize that the hives were deliberately made just for shelter and providing honey. Many did not realize that they should have taken advantage of the trees and hastened their work before they collapsed. This last difficulty was because bees did not trouble to set aside a part of their time and effort to study the nature of their environment.
Caravan of Dreams – Idries Shah
The Persian word dervish is generally considered to be derived from the verb der-vekhtan, to wait at a door. The reference is to waiting before the door of enlightenment.
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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