#sufi parable

A Modern Parable, The Crutch Society

Modern parable on being normal and abnormal. These days people consider whatever they like is normal and whatever others like is abnormal. This being the case, majority of the people have become blind followers and they think they are normal. Here is a beautiful modern parable that illustrates on what normality and abnormality are.

A man once hurt his leg. He had to walk with a crutch. This…

Sufi Islamic Story – An Old Man and A Beautiful Horse

Sufi Islamic Story – There was an old man in a village, very poor, but even kings were jealous of him because he had a beautiful white horse. Such a horse had never been seen before – the beauty, the very grandeur, the strength. Kings asked for the horse and they offered fabulous prices, but the old man would say, ‘This horse is not a horse to me, he is a person, and how can you sell a person?

He…

Once, a hunter caught hold of a magical bird.

The bird was astonishingly beautiful. To the amazement of the hunter, the bird began to speak.

The bird asked the hunter, ‘What are you going to do with me?’.

The hunter replied, ‘I will sell you for a good price. I'll get a lot of money for a talking bird’.

The bird asked again, ‘What would my new owner do with me?’

The hunter said, ‘I don’t know! He might put you in a cage, or cook you or, sell it to someone else.’

The bird asked, ‘So, by selling me, you would get some money, isn’t it?’

The hunter, ‘Yes’.

The bird then said, ‘But, if you will listen to me, you will profit much more.'

'If you release me, I will give you three valuable pieces of advice. If you follow them, they will change your life for the better.’

The hunter said, 'Hmmm, I don't know.'

The bird said, 'In so many years of hunting, have you ever met a talking bird?'

'I am a magical bird. Listen to me, and you will never regret it.'

The hunter finally shrugged, ‘Okay. Tell me…’

The bird continued, ‘Not right now. I shall give the first advice sitting on the branch of the tree above you, the second, from the top of the tree, and the third one, as I fly off.

The hunter agreed and freed the bird.

The bird immediately flew to the branch of the tree and sat on it.

It then gave the first advice –

‘Don’t feel upset about something that has already been lost.’

The hunter promptly nodded and asked for the second advice.

The bird flew to the top of the tree and said, “Did you know that there is a precious stone inside my body?”

Hearing this, the hunter got upset. He ranted that it had been really foolish of him to have released the bird.

He angrily screamed, ‘You cheated me! You cheated me!’, as he started throwing stones at the bird.

Laughing, the bird said, ‘I lied! The story of a gem being inside my body is not true. It was just to test whether you had understood my first advice.

Did I not tell you, just now, that it is of no use repenting for what has already left your hands?

You did not pay heed to my first advice, and now, you are crying!’

Now, the bird took off from the tree top and said, ‘Here's my third and most important advice to you.'

'Do not give any further advice to someone who does not follow your earlier counsel!’

And, the magical bird flew away.