Namaste, Welcome to SAM-VAD (Together In Conversation), Last week I drew your attention to one of many, \u2018Teaching Stories\u2019. This week I bring to your attention yet another story which is extracted from an interesting and thought provoking work, \u2018Tales of Dervishes\u2019 by Idries Shah.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dervish tales were never presented merely on the level of a fable, legend or folklore. They stand comparison in wit, construction and piquancy with the finest stories of any culture, yet their true function as teaching stories is little known.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Ant and the Dragonfly<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n An Ant with a settled programme in its mind was looking at some nectar when a dragonfly swooped to taste from the flower\u2019s cup. It flitted away and came and swooped again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This time the ant said:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2018You live without a labour, and you have no plan. As you have no real nor comparative purpose, what is the dominant feature of your life \u2013 and where will it end?\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n Said the dragonfly:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2018I am happy, and I seek pleasure, this is existence and objective enough. My aim is to have no aim. You may plan as you will; you cannot convince me that there is anything better. You to you plan, me to mine.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n The ant thought:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2018That which is visible to me is invisible to him. He does not know what happens to ants. I know what happens to dragonflies. Him to his plan, I to mine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And the ant went his way, for he had admonished as far as was possible in the circumstances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some time later their paths crossed again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The ant had found a butcher\u2019s shop, and he was standing under the chopping-block with discretion, awaiting what would come to him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The dragonfly, seeing the red meat from above, came gliding down and settled on it. At that moment the butcher\u2019s cleaver descended and cut the dragonfly in two.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One half of the body rolled on to the floor at the feet of the ant. Taking up the corpse and starting to drag it towards his nest, the ant recited to himself:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2018His plan is finished, and mine continues. \u201cHe to his plan\u201d is ended, \u201cMe to mine\u201d begins a cycle. Pride seemed important, it was transitory thing. A life of eating, to end with being eaten by something else.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When I suggested this, all he could think was that I might be a killjoy.\u2019 <\/p>\n\n\n\n Tales of Dervishes – Idries Shah<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n 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: <\/p>\n\n\n\n