Namaste, Welcome to SAM-VAD (Together In Conversation), today we will share this tale from the book Kalila Wa Dimna by Ramsay Wood, where he brings some of the ancient and timeless tales to life once again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Also as we begin today \u2018let us remember this about \u2018Attention\u2019.<\/strong> <\/em>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.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n THE CRANE AND THE CRAB<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n A crane once dwelt upon a pleasant lake placed among little hills spread over with herbs and flowers. He lived upon such fish as he could catch, and for many years got plenty. But at length, becoming old and feeble and unable to plunge into the water with his former speed, the crane was driven to fly in the air and feed only on the occasional cricket. Soon he was almost starving.<\/p>\n\n\n\n While the crane was poised in the bankside shallows one morning, sighing and looking mighty melancholy, there wandered sideways by a huge old freshwater crab who asked him what the trouble was.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2018Oh,\u2019 replied the crane, I am depressed by the conversation I overheard between two fishermen yesterday. That\u2019s all.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2018And what did they say?\u2019 asked the crab.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2018Do you really want to know?\u2019 answered the crane. \u2018It\u2019s not very pleasant news, and I have no wish to burden you.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2018Don\u2019t worry\u2019, the crab said. \u2018Tell me about it. I\u2019m interested.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2018Well, I was standing around one-leggedly over in that patch of reeds at the other end of the lake. The sun was shining fiercely, and I must have dozed off. Anway, I didn\u2019t hear these two men approach. Their voices woke me but they were too close for me to move without risk. I stood stock still, camouflaged by the reeds, and listened. \u201cIf we dug a trench through the left bank, we could drain this lake and catch all the fish in it,\u201d said one. \u201cTrue,\u201d said his friend,\u201d and there are many fish here. But I think I have a better idea. You know that smaller lake higher up in the hills, a mile or so away? Well, it also teems with fish and would be even easier to drain. Let\u2019s do that smaller one first, and later, on another day, we can come back here.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2018I\u2019m sure they mean business,\u2019 continued the crane, \u2018and when they return, that means the end of the fish and therefore the end of me. Without fish to feed on, my days are numbered. I am too old to fly about in search of a new home and start all over again. I am waiting for the day the fishermen come back, and facing the inevitability of death. There is nothing to be done except to wait, and learn to accept my fate.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2018Very interesting,\u2019 said the crab, and she slid off into the lake to seek out the president of the Fishes. He was taking a nap \u2013 floating almost motionless near the lake bottom among some waving weeds \u2013 a huge old carp that had seen at least a dozen summers and weighed nearly six pounds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2018Mr. President,\u2019 said the crab, \u2018Mr. President \u2013 Please wake up!\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2018Burble, said President Fish, and in a start his body swished left and right until he saw who it was. \u2018What is it, Madam Crab?\u2019 he said irritably. \u2018Why have you interrupted my siesta?\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2018President Fish,\u2019 answered the crab, \u2018it\u2019s about the fishermen coming to drain the lake. It\u2019s an emergency, and I think you had better call your cabinet together for a special meeting.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is exactly what happened once the crab had told him the full story. After the meeting the president\u2019s most intimate advisers fanned out into every nook and cranny of the lake to declare an Extraordinary Session of the Parliament of Fishes. Soon a great hubbubble arose from the traditional meeting spot deep in the middle of the lake. When all the fishy debates were done, and every opinion heard, a vote was taken which carried the motion to speak to the crane. That afternoon the fish swam towards the old bird in a great wedge-shaped armada with their president in the vanguard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2018Although you are our enemy,\u2019 he said from a safe distance, \u2018we feel we must have a word with you about our common danger.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2018But of course, by all means,\u2019 responded the crane in a somewhat lackluster tone. \u2019What can I do for you?\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2018First, please simply answer this question. Are you quiet positive that you heard two men saying they intended to drain the entire lake?\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2018Yes, I heard it with my own ears. I swear it by all the feathers on my body.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2018Well, then,\u2019 said the President Fish, \u2018we are both in the same dilemma. For if we who are your food die, you die too, old bird.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2018I am well aware of the delicate ecological balance which is involved,\u2019 the crane remarked testily. \u2018In fact I have personally resigned myself to my own death, and sincerely feel the inescapable doom which awaits\u2026\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2018But is there nothing we can do to protect ourselves?\u2019 interrupted President Fish.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2018No, I think not,\u2019 said the crane. \u2018We do not between us have sufficient power to withstand two determined men. There is only one way out, but I doubt you will try it, for it involves placing your complete trust in me.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2018For love of the lake, tell us anyway!\u2019 President Fish exclaimed. \u2018What have we to lose even if it fails? Say on, for we have not the least idea of what to do, and have come to hear your advice.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n The crane slowly rotated his head on the end of his long neck and carefully tucked his left leg up under his wing. \u2018There is a rather special pond not far from here,\u2019 he said at length, his little jet eyes peering past the tip of his beak. \u2018The water is cool and clear, and the bottom so deep that men could never drain it. More important, it is uninhabitated by fish. My idea would be to fly you there, one or two at a time, depending on size. You could grip the feathers on my back with your mouths and, strength permitting; I estimate I could make four or five trips per day.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2018But how do we know this is not a trick?\u2019 asked President Fish.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2018There,\u2019 said the crane, \u2018I predicted you wouldn\u2019t trust me. So, what is to be done except wait around for the fishermen? It won\u2019t be long now; they should finish with the smaller lake inside a couple of months.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2018Would you take me upon your back to see this pond?\u2019 asked President Fish. \u2018I could swim about in it and verify the truth of what you say, and then you could bring me back here to tell the others. Will you also guarantee a complete truce between us during this difficult period of transition? No fish eating until we are newly settled and things return to normal?\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2018Why, of course I will,\u2019 answered the crane. \u2018Certainly, certainly. Maybe you would care to have a trial run now?\u2019 <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2018Why not?\u2019 President Fish answered. \u2018There\u2019s still plenty of daylight left.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n It was agreed. The crane dived underwater so President Fish could obtain a good grip on the shoulder feathers with his mouth. He surfaced with the big fish nestled on his back. When all was balanced, the crane flew slowly off, mustering every bit of his remaining strength, and shortly arrived at the pond. President Fish flopped off the crane\u2019s back and spent a good quarter of an hour exploring the locale.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2018The pond is everything the crane says it is,\u2019 President Fish told all the other fish excitedly when he had returned. \u2018I urge you, therefore, to accept his offer. Let the great exodus begin! It is our only hope of survival. Three cheers for the crane, Hip hip\u2026\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2018Hooray!\u2019 sang out all the gathered congregation of fishes. \u2018Hip hip, Hooray!\u2019 Even the old she-crab joined in the cheering and waved her claws about in the air.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The next day the crane made five trips carrying away a total seven fish, four little ones in pairs and three large ones riding solo. But he flew his finny passengers to a rocky hilltop out of sight of the lake, and \u2013 when they could no longer hold their breaths and released their holds from his feathers \u2013 he flung them violently off his back so they lay gasping for water in the sunlight. Then he killed them and devoured them. Thus for many days he continued filling his belly, and soon grew sleek and glossy feathered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However one morning the she-crab requested a ride to the pond, as she missed a particular tench friend who had flown on before her. The crane, realizing that the crab was a potential troublemaker, readily agreed \u2013 determined to drop her from the air on to the rocks below and smash her to pieces. The crab scrambled up on the crane\u2019s back and tightly clasped his feathers with her legs and claws. They mounted into the skies and soon left the lake far behind, but after many minutes the crab still could not see the famous pond.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2018Friend, friend,\u2019 she cried out over the wind which rushed past her, \u2018how much farther to the cool, clear water which we heard so much about?\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2018Ha ha!\u2019 the crane yelled back over his shoulder. \u2018You dumb crustaceous bitch \u2013 there is no pond for you!\u2019 Sure enough, the crab could see in the distance great piles of fish heads and fishbones which the crane had scattered about on the hilltop. He now began to swoop sharply left and right, trying to shake the crab off his back. But an instant later he felt first one then the other of crab\u2019s powerful claws grip his neck as tightly as a blacksmith\u2019s pincers. The claws squeezed so hard that the old crane began to gasp and tears ran from his eyes. Madam Crab carefully pulled herself forward and shouted down his earhole:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2018If I were you, foul fowl, I\u2019d stop this nonsense and make a nice soft landing immediately. Otherwise I shall cut off your head as clean as a man lops through a lotus stalk with his hunting knife, and we shall perish together.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2018Hrvvck aahh krr,\u2019 the crane rasped out from deep in his throat. \u2018Stop, stop, you\u2019re strangling me! I can\u2019t see! Stop, for God\u2019s sake, so I can land!\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n Madam Crab relaxed her grip perhaps a millimeter: the old crane glided ever so gently to the ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2018Sit down, you evil trickster, so I can climb off your back,\u2019 the crab ordered. \u2018I was only joking,\u2019 the crane said in great pain, folding his legs and lowering his body to the earth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2018Tell me another,\u2019 said the crab, and with a mighty squeeze she shut her claws and cut his head off clean as whistle. When she had recovered and wept over the bones of her friends, the crab made her way back to the lake and told all the remaining fish of her adventure with the treacherous crane. Needless to say, they gave her many thanks for their deliverance, but poor President Fish somehow became the scapegoat for their collective poor judgment, and was hounded from office and never forgiven.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Excerpt from Doctor\u2019s orders:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n I must emphasize this last point: my stories require, at this stage, no extra commentary, wretched imaginings, or vapid guesswork by you, me, or anyone else. The very worst would be that of moralizing away the effective substance. Thus the urge to tag tidy little rationalizations, persuasive formulas, intellectual summaries, symbolical labels, or any other convenient pigeon-holing device, must be steadfastly resisted. Mental encapsulation perverts the medicine, rendering it impotent. It amounts to a bypass around the story\u2019s true destination; 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Kalila Wa Dimna; Vol.1 \u2013 Ramsay Wood<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n