A Persian merchant got a parrot as a gift from his Indian trading partners and kept her in a cage. The parrot could sing well and every day after work the merchant would enjoy listening to her songs. When the merchant left for India again, he asked the parrot what she wanted from her country….
Category: Tale
090. Mulla Nusruddin: Clothes maketh a man
Mulla Nusruddin Mulla Nusruddin heard about a grand dinner being hosted by the new Emir in his palace. He turned up there in his usual shabby clothes. The guards did not who he was and would not let him in. Mulla came home, put on his best dress and turban, and went back to the…
084. Chuang Tzu story: How to transform a corrupt politician
One day, Yen Hui, the favorite disciple of Confucius, told his master that he wanted to go to Wei. He said, “The Prince of Wei is lusty and self-willed. He takes no care of his people and refuses to see any fault in himself. He pays no attention to the fact that people are dying…
076. Mulla Nasruddin and the end of the world
Mulla Nasruddin Nowadays, what with the pandemic, climate change, authoritarian rulers and so on, it seems sometimes that the end of the world is coming. Here are two Mulla stories on this topic. A friend asked Mulla, “Are you not scared of the end time that is coming?” Mulla said, “Which one?” The friend replied,…
072. Chuang Tzu story: How robbers become statesmen
For safety against robbers, one must protect property with ropes, locks and bolts. This makes good sense to the property owner, until a strong thief comes along and carries away everything. He has only one fear: That ropes, locks, and bolts may give way. Thus what the world calls good business is only a way…
071. Mulla Nasruddin and the flying donkey
The tyrannical King was mad at Mulla Nasruddin for being unable to entertain him. He shouted that he would cut off Mulla’s head. Mulla Nasruddin stepped forward and said, “I will do something that will surely entertain you.” “What will you do?” asked the King. “I will make my donkey fly!” “If you fail to…
063. A Rumi story: The Angel of Death
Solomon, the wise prophet, held daily audiences at which his subjects would narrate their problems and he would provide solutions. One day, a man in complete distress fell on his knees before Solomon, who asked him what the man’s problem was. The man said, “Just a short while ago, as I was crossing the street,…
060. Mulla Nusruddin: Where should one find happiness?
For the 60th story, I turn to my favourite character: Mulla Nusruddin Mulla Nusruddin on his donkey Mulla Nusruddin was walking on the road and he saw a man sitting on the wayside, looking very unhappy and dejected. Mulla asked him, “What is bothering you?” The man replied, “I have nothing of interest in my…
057. How should we judge a horse (or any person, for that matter)?
Pen Lo had for many years breeding horses for the Duke. Pen Lo was getting old and so the Duke asked him to find a younger person from his family to take over the breeding of horses. Pen Lo told the Duke, “We can judge a horse by its muscles and appearance. But the best…
054. The stonecutter’s wish
There was once a stonecutter who went up a mountain every day to cut stones. Though poor, he was content with his life and work. One day, he was called to cut some stones in the mansion of a nobleman. On seeing the magnificent mansion and all that was inside, the stonecutter had a sudden…