Tea

In ancient times, tea was unknown beyond China. Rumors of its existence had reached other lands, and those who heard of it tried to find out what it was in accordance with their desires or imagination. The king of Inja sent an envoy to China, who returned with a gift of tea from the Emperor. But the envoy had seen peasants drink tea, and decided that it was unfit for his royal master; he suspected that the Emperor was trying to deceive them by substituting some lesser substance for the celestial drink. A philosopher of Anja gathered what information he could find, and determined that tea must be rare, unique and mysterious, for it was known as an herb, a beverage, green, black, at times bitter, at other times sweet.

In Koshish and Bebinem, people tested every herb and liquid they could find. Many were poisoned; all were disappointed. The tea plant had never been brought to their lands, so no one could find it. Still they continued the search.

The people of Mazhab knew of tea — a small bag of it was carried in their religious processions as a talisman. But no one thought or knew how to taste it. When a wise man told them to pour boiling water over it, he was hanged as an enemy of their religion, for who else but an enemy would suggest destroying their magic? Before he died, he told his secret to a few, who then managed to get some tea and drink it secretly. When someone noticed and asked what they were doing, they answered that it was a simple medicine.

It was this way throughout the world. Some had seen the bush, but did not recognize it; others had tasted tea, but thought it common, certainly not a drink of legend. Still others possessed and worshipped it. Beyond China only a few drank it, and only in secrecy. A man of understanding spoke to the tea merchants and tea drinkers. “The one who tastes, knows. The one who tastes not, knows not. Don’t speak of a heavenly beverage; offer it at your banquets and say nothing. Those who like it will ask for more; those who don’t aren’t fit to drink it. Close the shop of debate and mystery. Open the teahouse of experience.”

Tea was soon carried on every caravan on the Silk Road. Pausing to rest, merchants made tea and offered it to their guests and companions, whether they knew the legends or not. This was how chaikhanas came to be established from Peking to Bukhara and Samarkand. And those who tasted, knew. At first only the powerful and those who pretended to possess wisdom sought the ambrosia, then protested, “But this is only dried leaves!” or “Why do you boil water when all I want is the celestial drink?” or yet again, “Prove to me what this is. It looks like mud, not gold!” When the truth was widespread, and when tea was given to all who would taste, only fools asked such questions. And it is still that way.

The two frogs

A group of frogs were hopping contentedly through the woods, going about their froggy business, when two of them fell into a deep pit. The other frogs gathered around the pit to see what could be done to help their companions. When they saw how deep the pit was, the rest of the dismayed group agreed that it was hopeless and told the two unfortunate frogs in the pit that they should prepare themselves for their fate, because they were as good as dead.

Unwilling to accept this terrible fate, the two frogs tried with all of their might to jump out of the pit. The other frogs shouted into the pit that it was hopeless, and that they wouldn’t be in that situation if they had been more careful, more obedient to the froggy rules, and more responsible. They continued shouting that they should save their energy and give up, since they were already as good as dead.

But the two frogs continued jumping as hard as they could and became quite weary. Finally, one of the frogs took heed to the calls of his fellows. Spent and disheartened, he quietly resolved himself to his fate, lay down at the bottom of the pit, and died as the others looked on in helpless grief.

The other frog continued to jump with every ounce of energy he had, although his body was wracked with pain and he was completely exhausted. Once again, the crowd of frogs started yelling for him to accept his fate, stop the pain and just die. The weary frog jumped harder and harder and—wonder of wonders—finally leapt so high that he sprang from the pit. Amazed, the other frogs celebrated his miraculous freedom and then, gathering around him asked, “Why did you continue jumping when we told you it was impossible?”

Reading their lips, the astonished frog explained to them that he was deaf, and that when he saw their gestures and shouting, he thought they were cheering him on. What he had perceived as encouragement inspired him to try harder and to succeed against all odds.

What chair?

A philosophy professor walked in to give his class their final. Placing his chair on his desk the professor instructed the class: “Using every applicable thing you’ve learned in this course, prove to me that this chair does not exist.”

So, pencils writing and erasers erasing, the students launched into their epic essays to prove that this chair didn’t exist … except, that was, for one student: young Nasrudin.

He spent thirty seconds writing his answer, then promptly turned his paper in to the astonishment of both his peers and the professor, and returned to his seat to await the end of the lesson.

Time went by, and the day came when all the students get their final grades … And to the amazment of the class, young Nasrudin, the student who wrote for thirty seconds received the highest grade in the class.

And his answer to the question, which quite transported the philosophy professor himself?

“What chair?”

Eat No Stones

A hunter, walking through some woods, came upon a notice. He read the words: Eat No Stones. His curiosity was stimulated, and he followed a track which led past the sign until he came to a cave at the entrance to which a Sufi was sitting. The Sufi said to him: The answer to your question is that you have never seen a notice prohibiting the eating of stones because there is no need for one. Not to eat stones may be called a common habit. Only when the human being is able similarly to avoid other habits, even more destructive than eating stones, will he be able to get beyond his present pitiful state.

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Why we need a teacher.

One day a bird flew into a temple and couldn’t get out. The bird flew from window to window, battering himself, in a vain effort to escape. Then, exhausted, the bird rested on the window sill of the only open window without realizing it was different from the others. A teacher, who had been watching the bird’s frantic efforts, immediately clapped his hands. The startled bird jumped through the window and was free.

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Intellectual copyright

I am a mimic of you. I am a pale copy and a counterfeit,though I never intended to steal stories from your mouth.

Those stories are no more my property than the clothes of my youth or the tables at which I ate. We kept company together awhile. When I died, God scattered those words like diamonds over the earth. Pick them up and set them in brilliant settings and you will have eulogized me and my teachers and will have given three fine gifts to the Lord of Glory, though no gift can ever befit Him.

Nasaruddin...again

Nasruddin, ferrying a scholar across a piece of rough water, said something ungrammatical to him. ‘Have you never studied grammar?‘ asked the scholar. ‘No.‘ ‘Then half of your life has been wasted.‘
A few minutes later Nasruddin turned to the passenger.‘Have you ever learned how to swim?‘ ‘No. Why?‘ ‘Then all your life has been wasted,we are sinking!‘

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Nasruddin heard that a position for Judge was open in his town. He took to walking about with a fishing net over his shoulder. People asked him, what’s up with the fishing net? “I started out as a fisherman. I keep this net to remind me of my simple origins. replied Nasruddin.

Everyone was impressed by his humility. So impressed they chose him to be their new judge. After that he quit carrying the fishing net around. People asked him, what’shappened with the net? “Surely, once the fish are caught there is no longer any need for the net!” he replied.

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The teacher is droning on in the lecture hall when he spots a student sleeping, way up in the back row. The teacher shouts to the sleeping student’s neighbour: “Hey, wake that student up!“ To which Nasruddin, the youth’s neighbour, calls back: “You put him to sleep, teacher you wake him up!“

drawing the wrong conclusions

A fox who lived in the deep forest of long ago had lost its front legs. No one knew how: perhaps escaping from a trap. A man who lived on the edge of the forest , seeing the fox from time to time, wondered how in the world it managed to get its food. One day when the fox was not far from him he had to hide himself quickly because a tiger was approaching. The tiger had fresh game in its claws. Lying down on the ground, it ate its fill, leaving the rest for the fox.

Again the next day the great Provider of this world sent provisions to the fox by this same tiger. The man began to think: “If this fox is taken care of in this mysterious way, its food sent by some unseen Higher Power, why don’t I just rest in a corner and have my daily meal provided for me?”

Because he had a lot of faith, he let the days pass, waiting for food. Nothing happened. He just went on losing weight and strength until he was nearly a skeleton. Close to losing consciousness, he heard a Voice which said: “O you, who have mistaken the way, see now the Truth! You should have followed the example of that tiger instead of imitating the disabled fox.”

Sa’adi of Shiraz

Reflections

Salih of Qazwin was teaching Truth seekers “Knock and the Door will open for you”; when Rabi’a heard this, she admonished him, “What are you talking about, the Door has never been shut.”

Yet, Rumi said, ” I knocked and the door opened, but I found I’d been knocking from the inside.”

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Idries Shah...What can you do with a person who says that he is absolutely uncertain about everything, and that he is absolutely certain about that?

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Jiddu Krishnamurti...In oneself lies the whole world and if you know how to look and learn, the door is there and the key is in your hand. Nobody on earth can give you either the key or the door to open, except yourself.

When we talk about understanding, surely it takes place only when the mind listens completely - the mind being your heart, your nerves, your ears- when you give your whole attention to it.

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Robert Frager...Whatever we perceive in the world around us tends to reflect who we are and what we care about most deeply, as in the old saying, When a thief sees a saint, all he sees are his pockets.

Truth is simply about seeing things as they truly are- a realizationthat is available to all.

Jailbreak

Unjustly imprisoned, a tinsmith was allowed to receive a rug woven by his wife. He prostrated himself upon the rug day after day to say his prayers, and after some time he said to his jailers: “I am poor and without hope, and you are wretchedly paid. But I am a tinsmith. Bring me tin and tools and I shall make small artefacts which you can sell in the market, and we shall both benefit.” The guards agreed to this, and the tinsmith and the guards were both making a profit, from which they brought food and comforts for themselves.

Then, one day, when the guards went to the cell, the door was open, and he was gone. Many years later, when this man’s innocence had been established, the man who had imprisoned him asked him how he had escaped, what magic he had used. He said: “It’s a matter of design, and design within design. My wife is a weaver. She found the man who had made the locks of the cell door, and got the design from him. This she wove into the carpet, at the spot where my head touched in every prayer. I am a metal-worker, and this design looked to me like the inside of a lock. I designed the plan of the artefacts to obtain the materials to make the key - and I escaped.”

‘That, is one of the ways in which man may make his escape from the tyranny of his captivity.’

Thinkers of the East, by Idries Shah.

Two Coyotes

Two Coyotes were crossing a farmer’s field. Both Coyotes were strangers to each other for they had never met. Just as they were about to introduce themselves they heard the farmer yell, "There's a Coyote in the field!" The first Coyote turned to the other and told him to run! They both started to run for the trees when they heard the farmer yell, "And there goes another one!" Finally both Coyotes made it to the cover of the trees and they started to introduce themselves. "I never saw you before, I am Wanderer, I am a Coyote like you." The other Coyote looked at him oddly and said, "I am Sleek, but I am not a Coyote like you." "Yes you are," said Wanderer. "Oh no, I am not," replied Sleek. "Look my friend, you are confused. You have ears like mine, you have a tail like mine, our fur isthe same, our snouts are the same, everything is the same, you are just like me and we are both Coyotes,” Wanderer tried to explain.

"Listen let's run across the field again and you will see,” challenged Sleek. So off they ran. First went Wanderer and again the Farmer yelled, "There goes that darn Coyote.” Then Sleek took afoot and the Farmer yelled, "And there goes another one... again!”When the two Coyotes reached the other side of the field they ducked into the woods. Wanderer turned to Sleek and said, "There! Didn't you hear the Farmer? He called us both Coyotes." Sleek look disappointed with his new confused friend and said, "Yes I heard the Farmer. He called you a Coyote, but I am an ‘Another One’.”

Our problem is, we are listening to the Farmers tell us who we are.

An American Indian tale.

The two teachers

One day, a teacher working at Selfbury School got a new job at Otherham School. During the holiday, before taking up her new post, she happened to meet Nasruddin. He mentioned, to her surprise, that he knew Otherham School. ‘What’s it like there?’ she asked. ‘Well,’ said Nasruddin, ‘what’s it like at Selfbury School?’ ‘Terrible,’ said the teacher. ‘The head’s a little Hitler, the children are savages, my colleagues were forever stabbing me in the back and the local authority officers and advisers were a pack of lifeless grey suits. I’ll be glad to get away, I can tell you. But anyway, what’s it like at Otherham?’ ‘I’m sorry to have to tell you,’ said Nasruddin, ‘that you’ll find the school you are going to is very similar to the school you are coming from’. The teacher went on her way lamenting. The next stage of her career would consist of one battle and defeat after another.

During that same school holiday there was another teacher moving from Selfbury School to Otherham. She too happened to meet Nasruddin. ‘What’s it like at Otherham?’ she asked. ‘’Well,’ he said, ‘what’s it like at Selfbury?’ ‘Wonderful,’ said the teacher, ‘The head was unfailingly supportive, the children were keen to learn, my colleagues couldn’t be more helpful and the local authority officers and advisers always knew what to say, and what not to say. I’m really sorry to be leaving, I can tell you. But anyway, what’s it like at Otherham?’ ‘I’m pleased to be able to tell you,’ said Nasruddin, ‘that you’ll find the school you are going to is very similar to the school you are coming from.’ The teacher went on her way rejoicing. The next stage of her life would consist of one fruitful encounter and exchange after another.

Nasruddin

Once, Nasruddin was invited to deliver a talk. When he got on the stage, he asked ‘Do you know what I am going to say?’ The audience replied ‘No’. So he announced ‘I have no desire to speak to people who don’t even know what I will be talking about’ and left.

The people felt embarrassed and called him back again the next week. This time when he asked the same question, the people replied ‘Yes’. So he said, ‘Well, since you already know what I am going to say, I won’t waste any more of your time’ and he left.

Now the people were really perplexed. They decided to try one more time and once again invited him to speak the following week. Once again he asked the same question: ‘Do you know what I am going to say?’ Now the people were prepared and so half of them answered ‘Yes’ while the other half replied ‘No’. So he said ‘The half who know what I am going to say, tell it to the other half’ and he left.

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Nasruddin used to stand in the street on market-days, to be pointed out as an idiot. No matter how often people offered him a large and a small coin, he always chose the smaller piece. One day a kindly man said to him: ‘Nasruddin, you should take the bigger coin. Then you will havemore money and people will no longer be able to make a laughing stock of you’. ‘That may be true,’ said Nasruddin, ‘but if I always take the larger one, people will stop offering me money to prove that I am more idiotic than they are. Then I would have no money at all’.

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One day Nasruddin lost his ring down in the basement of his house, where it was very dark. There being no chance of his finding it in that darkness, he went out on the street and started looking for it there. Somebody passing by stopped and enquired: ‘What are you looking for, Nasruddin? Have you lost something?’ ‘Yes, I’ve lost my ring down in the basement.’ ‘But Nasruddin, why don’t you look for it down in the basement where you have lost it?’asked the man in surprise. ‘Don’t be silly, man! How do you expect me to find anything in that darkness!’

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Nasruddin was throwing bits of bread all around his house. ‘What are you doing?’ someone asked. ‘Keeping the tigers away.’ ‘But there are no tigers around here’. ‘Exactly. Effective, isn’t it?’

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'Nasruddin, why do you always answer a question with another question?’ ‘Do I?’

Us (we)

we are the reason for every thing

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we are the one favoured with love

we are the one bearing the gift

we are the one given the knowledge

we are the one raised on the pedestal

we are the one born to be king

we are the one bestowed with choice

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we are (the) love

we are (the) gift

we are (the) knowledge

we are (the) mystery

we are (the) miracle

we are (the) honour

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every thing we do will revert to above

every question we ask will revert to above

every answer we have will revert to above

every move we made will revert to above

every one in the beginning will revert to above

every one in the end will revert to above

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sometime we had to look from a different perspective

sometime we had to observe more conscientiously

sometime we had to see what is not there

sometime we had to see things that is in plain view

sometime we had to wait a while more

sometime we had to keep thing simple

Louis Armstrong

I see trees of green, red roses too
I see them bloom for me and you
And I think to myself what a wonderful world.

I see skies of blue and clouds of white
The bright blessed day, the dark sacred night
And I think to myself what a wonderful world.

The colors of the rainbow so pretty in the sky
Are also on the faces of people going by
I see friends shaking hands saying how do you do
They're really saying I love you.

I hear babies cry, I watch them grow
They'll learn much more than I'll never know
And I think to myself what a wonderful world
Yes I think to myself what a wonderful world.

John Lennon

Love is real, real is love,
Love is feeling, feeling love,
Love is wanting to be loved.
Love is touch, touch is love,
Love is reaching, reaching love,
Love is asking to be loved.
Love is you,
You and me,
Love is knowing,
We can be.
Love is free, free is love,
Love is living, living love,
Love is needing to be loved.

Jiwang Jiwang

kamu hadirkan cinta di hatiku

menyemai bibit bibit rindu

melahirkan hiba ketika berjauhan

gelisah tak sabar datangnya esok

untuk sekali lagi menatapi wajahmu

hadirmu ini gembira tak terkata

.

kamu hadirkan cemburu di hatiku

menyemai bibit bibit pilu

melahirkan resah ketika bersama

gelisah tak mahu perginya saat ini

untuk sekali lagi tanpa wajahmu

pergimu ini hiba tak terkata

.

kerana tidak selalu bersama mu

gembira bila kamu mendampingi lagi

menikmati jelingan dan renungan mata mu

dan senyuman yang terukir dibibir mu

ketawa mu, kata kata ucapan lembut mu

kelembutan jari mu membelai rambut mu

.

hadir mu menyuluh kegelapan hati ku

menerangi hidup ku, menunjukan hiba ku

pergi mu bagai malam yang tak berbulan

dan yang tak berbintang

cuma dingin yang menyelubungi ku

.

bila bersentuhan aku tak ingin melupai

kehangatan nya yang melahirkan berahi

keinginan yang tak pernah ku rasai dahulu

kekosongan yang tak pernah ku tahu ada disisi

.

tapi apa kan daya kamu akan pergi jua

bagaikan bayu yang hanya menyinggah seketika

maka seketika inilah detik dan saat nya aku hidup

puas dalam khayalan dan mimpi ku

menchumbu dan merayu mu

menanti menjelmanya kamu lagi

Waiya

with you, with you, life gets beautiful with you
either when you are cheerful or angry
I accept anything you like
No matter how you tease me, intrigue me
wherever you go I'm going with you!
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where am I from you
you are an angel, a moon in night sky
who am I to you?
I am just your slave

how can I dare to desire your beauty
I accepted that destiny already
but now if I complain, you are the reason
why do you desert me, enough flirting!
What is my guilt, if my heart fell in love?

with you, with you, life gets beautiful with you
either when you are cheerful or angry
I accept anything you like
No matter how you tease me, intrigue me
wherever you go I'm going with you!

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although my eyes face yours,
I still can't say that I love you!
oh! what an ache, why doesn't it subside
how can you accept my agony in your love?
my nights got longer, you are the only hope
my heart alway wonders what to do?
I gave my life for you, you are my only dream
my joy comes on the day when you say yes

with you, with you, life gets beautiful with you
either when you are cheerful or angry
I accept anything you like
no matter how you tease me, intrigue me
wherever you go I'm going with you!

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No matter how you tease me, intrigue me
wherever you go I'm going with you!

Wasiat

Perhatikan masa yang datang dan berlalu…Kita ini selalu kerugian...kechuali kita…

beriman…beramal soleh...mengingatkan haq...meningatkan kesabaran...

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Ingat 5 perkara sebelum 5 perkara..

Sihat sebelum sakit
Muda sebelum tua
Kaya sebelum miskin
Lapang sebelum sebuk
Hidup sebelum mati

The butterfly

One day, a small opening appeared in a cocoon; a man sat and watched for the butterfly for several hours as it struggled to force its body through that little hole. Then, it seems to stop making any progress.It appeared as if it had gotten as far as it could and it could not go any further. So the man decided to help the butterfly: he took a pair of scissors and opened the cocoon.The butterfly then emerged easily.But it had a withered body, it was tiny and shriveled wings.The man continued to watch because he expected that, at any moment, the wings would open, enlarge and expand, to be able to support the butterfly’s body, and become firm. Neither happened!

In fact, the butterfly spent the rest of its life crawling around with a withered body and shriveled wings. It never was able to fly. What the man, in his kindness and his goodwill did not understand was that the restricting cocoon and the struggle required for the butterfly to get through the tiny opening, were God’s way of forcing fluid from the body of the butterfly into its wings, so that it would be ready for flight once it achieved its freedom from the cocoon. Sometimes, struggles are exactly what we need in our life. If God allowed us to go through our life without any obstacles, it would cripple us. We would not be as strong as we could have been. Never been able to fly.

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I asked for Strength...

and God gave me difficulties to make me strong.

I asked for Wisdom...

and God gave me problems to solve.

I asked for prosperity...

and God gave me a brain and brawn to work.

I asked for Courage…

and God gave me obstacles to overcome.

I asked for Love...

and God gave me troubled people to help.

I asked for Favors...

and God gave me Opportunities.

I received nothing I wanted...

But I received everything I needed.

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Live life without fear, confront all obstacles and know that you can overcome them.

Acquiring wisdom

To obtain wisdom you first must be wise. Sound contradictory? It isn't, really. Let me explain first, what wisdom isn't. Wisdom is not the same as knowledge. Knowledge is merely acquaintance with the facts of a subject. Knowledge is awareness. Information plus inference (thought) equals knowledge. Understanding is not wisdom. Understanding is being able to think abstractly about the facts. It is comprehending, interpreting, and assigning meaning to the facts. Neither knowing nor understanding the facts is wisdom. So what is wisdom, and can a human acquire it? Here are some thoughts on wisdom.

Wisdom is a trait that is developed by experience but not taught.

Wisdom is the best use of knowledge.

Wisdom is pure reason.

Wisdom is a virtue such as courage or justice.

The Greeks loved wisdom. They even had a goddess of wisdom, Sophia. In the Hebrew scriptures it says... and thou shalt speak to the wise hearted, whom I have filled with the spirit of wisdom. Clearly this says you must be wise to receive wisdom. Solomon sought wisdom and found it. Thus we must apply our heart (to seek) to wisdom and seek it with diligence. Wisdom is gained by experiencing the truth about the facts revealed. Modern psychologists say this about wisdom: There is an overlap of the implicit theory of wisdom with intelligence, perceptiveness, spirituality, and shrewdness; it is evident that wisdom is a distinct term and not a composite of other terms.

So what is wisdom? It is the best use of knowledge, it is the best use of understanding. It is utilizing that knowledge and understanding in making choices. It is being able to discern and perceive differences in the choices available and choose what is the best. How does a human being come to acquire wisdom?

It seems to me that a wise man will seek after the truth and endeavor to be filled with wisdom. Wisdom is knowing the truth, understanding the truth and basing your actions on the truth.

Debra Carey

Knowledge. Wisdom. Experience

Knowledge without wisdom can lead to disaster. Fools think they know it all, but the wise realize how much they don't know.

Wisdom is the application of knowledge. It is using knowledge in the most effective way. Knowledge can be obtained in a relatively short period of time. Acquiring wisdom, on the other hand, can take many years. It is gained by observing life and learning from the failures and successes of yourself and others. It is also obtained by following the instructions of teachers and mentors.

Solomon gave advice on acquiring wisdom. Let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let those who discern get guidance. Do not rebuke a mocker or he will hate you; rebuke a wise man and he will love you. Instruct a wise man and he will be wiser still; teach a righteous man and he will add to his learning. We gain knowledge and wisdom by listening to instruction and miss out if we refuse it. It is human nature to resist when someone tells us what to do. Our independence tends to reject advice from others, thinking that we know better. While it is good to act on our own initiate, it is not practical to learn everything on our own. We need to learn from every source available. Those who refuse advice from others will find the going to be extremely difficult. We of course must filter advice and discard what is not applicable.

Most of the information that we study on our own, deals with how aspects of life work or are supposed to work. They are not always good at describing what to do when they don't work like they should. This is why wisdom is vital. After school is over, education is just beginning. During a job interview we were always told, "You have a piece of paper saying you graduated, but you don't know a thing." On the job, you must learn how to put theory to practical use. This is where mentors can be extremely valuable. Those with the wisdom gained from experience have discovered the best and easiest way to do things. They can show you the ropes and teach you the tricks of the trade. This can serve as a shortcut to gaining wisdom. You will find, however, that some of their ways won't be efficient for you. You must discover what works for you by trying different methods.

Those that know how, will always have a job and those that know why, will be their boss.

Lynn Bradley

Luqman Hakim

The story of a wise scholar called Luqman who always gave good advice to his children.

Once Luqman said to his son, “Oh son! Do not tie your heart in seeking the pleasure of people. You are not likely to succeed. Do not pay attention to what people say. Instead tell yourself always to seek the pleasure of God.” He wanted this lesson to be always remembered, never to be forgotten.

Than one day Luqman told his son to ride a donkey. His son obeyed and he followed behind on foot. They travelled in this way for some distance when they came across a group of people. Seeing the son on the donkey, one of them said, “What an impolite and bad boy. His old father is walking on foot and the young son is comfortably riding on the donkey. This is not a manner to show respect to one’s father”. Father and son heard this.

The son came down from the donkey and Luqman rode on the animal. After sometime they came across another group of people. On seeing the father riding the donkey, the elder of the group said, “Oh you old man! This is not the way to bring up a son. You make him walk in the hot sun, while you sit comfortably on the donkey.” Luqman paid attention to what the people said.

He came down from the donkey. Both father and son walked on foot. The donkey walked in front. They went a little further. People seeing them, said, “How foolish you are? You walk behind a donkey. Why don’t you ride it?” Luqman and his son once again accepted what the people said.

They both rode the donkey and went further. They came across a river. There was a bridge to be crossed. Some people were sitting there. They saw Luqman and his son riding the donkey. One of them said, “It is very unkind and cruel of you two to ride on the poor donkey. The little animal can hardly take all your burden.” So taking this advice Luqman and his son dismounted from the donkey.

They travelled a little distance further and Luqman lovingly said to his son, “You have heard and seen what the people said. It must have assured you, by now, that whatever you do or whichever way you move, one is not able to please the people of the world.” He pointed at the flowing river and added, “A person can build a wall across the river. It will stop the flow of the water. But it is not possible to shut the mouth of the people from criticism.”

There are as many opinions as there are people in the world. Some people can speak even without thinking and like to find fault with others. A person can feel very hurt when he listens to all these loose talk especially when he is doing something good. To avoid getting hurt, a person can train and discipline himself to think. Thus by thinking he can know what is wrong. When a person is sure that what he is doing will please God, then he need not worry what others think or speak.

The pleasures of seeking knowledge

Learning is a natural pleasure. This pleasure is inborn and instinctive. The pleasure of learning is one of the essential pleasures of the human race. Without learning, survival itself is threatened. The process of learning starts right after birth. It is true that babies who can barely talk investigate problems with all the zeal and excitement of explorers, make discoveries with the passion and absorption of dedicated scientists. At the end of each successful investigation, one can see on the tiny face an expression of innocent and pure heartfelt pleasure.

The process of physical growth stops when a boy or girl reaches puberty. On the other hand the mental faculties grow from birth until death. At some point in our lifetime, the physical body becomes sick or ill and gradually dies; even the emotions become duller. But the mind continues to live, and even grows more lively and active, enjoys itself more, works and plays with more expansion and delight.

There are many examples in the history of Art, Music and Science, of both men and women who significantly contributed and lead mentally productive lives at their ripe old ages. Learning extends our lives into new dimensions. It is cumulative. Instead of diminishing in time, like health and strength, its dividends go on increasing, provided one continues to learn throughout life and integrate the thoughts and make learning harmonious. One should make it a point to learn at least one piece of new information each day.

When you stand in a big library in front of thousands of books do not think they are lumps of lifeless paper, but minds alive on the shelves. Each has its own voice, which is as inaudible as the radiobroadcast waves falling directly on ears. Just as one switches on the radio to listen, similarly a person needs to open a book to hear the voice far distant in time and space. One can hear the voice speaking, mind to mind, and heart to heart. Reading of books gives you two different delights. One is the pleasure of understanding the unknown and the unexpected. The other pleasure is of deepening one's knowledge of a specified field.

Pleaure of Learning

The pleasure of learning is not confined to learning from textbooks, apart from books, learning means keeping the mind open and active to receive all kinds of experience. As pointed out earlier there is great emphasis on learning and seeking knowledge in Islam. The Prophet Mohammed ordered Muslims to be active in their search for learning, crossing oceans and continents if necessary. " Seek knowledge even in China" he said.

Traveling is an important activity in the pleasures of learning. There are many examples of exceptionally informed people who never read books and newspapers, but acquire knowledge through traveling. One should travel with an open mind, an alert eye and a wish to understand other people and other places.

A saying of the Prophet is ... With knowledge man rises to the heights of goodness and to a noble position, associated with sovereigns in this world, and attains the perfection of happiness in the next.

There are many people in this world who have played themselves to death, or eaten and drunk themselves to death. Nobody ever died because of thinking or learning. People who avoid learning, or abandon it, find no joy in life, find that life is dry. No learner has ever run short of subjects to explore. The pleasures of learning lead to happiness. One can live a long, healthy and rewarding life by attaining and preserving the happiness of learning. Learning is everyone's birthright. Everyone - young or old, rich or poor, male or female, has access to learning. Exercise your birthright. Remember what you have learned cannot be taken away by others.

Alexander & Diogenes

It is fitting here to mention the story of Diogenes, the great Greek philosopher who lived during the time of Alexander the Great. Diogenes was a very learned man who shunned both power and wealth. He was known to have wandered around searching for an honest man carrying a lantern during day and night. He gave up everything he possessed, except a coconut shell for drinking water. One day he saw a man drinking water forming a cup with his hand. After seeing this Diogenes threw away his last possession, the coconut shell.

The name of Diogenes spread throughout Greece. Alexander the Great heard about Diogenes and one day decided to see him. Mounted on horseback, Alexander the Great went to Diogenes who was sitting on the ground. Alexander said ' Oh Diogenes, I have heard a great deal about you and your life. I am very much impressed by your life and it is my earnest desire to help you in whatever way I can. Please let me know your desires so that I can fulfill them". To which Diogenes replied "Your Excellency my only request is that you get aside and allow the sun's rays to fall on my body." Alexander the Great was deeply moved by Diogenes's reply and said "If I were not Alexander the Great. I would be Diogenes." Now the point I want to make here is that Diogenes never went to Alexander the Great, but that Alexander the Great came to Diogenes for he was such a learned philosopher.

Seeking knowledge

lslam's emphasis on learning is obvious, take a look at the Qur'an and Sunnah many references to learning, education, observation, and the use of reason. The very first verse of the Qur'an revealed reads:

"Recite: In the name of thy Lord who created man from a clot. Recite: And thy Lord is the Most Generous Who taught by the pen, taught man that which he knew not."

"Are those who have knowledge and those who have no knowledge alike? Only the men of understanding are mindful. " (Quran, 39:9)

The pursuit of knowledge and the use of reason, based on sense and observation is made obligatory on all believers.

· "The acquisition of knowledge is compulsory for every Muslim, whether male or female."

· "The ink of the scholar is more sacred than the blood of the martyr."

· "Seek knowledge from the cradle to the grave."

· "God has revealed to me, 'Whoever walks in the pursuit of knowledge I facilitate for him the way to heaven.'

· "The best form of worship is the pursuit of knowledge."

· "Scholars should endeavor to spread knowledge and provide education to people who have been deprived of it. For, where knowledge is hidden it disappears."

· Some one asked the Prophet : "Who is the biggest scholar?" He replied: "He who is constantly trying to learn from others, for a scholar is ever hungry for more knowledge."

· "Seek knowledge and wisdom, or whatever the vessel from which it flows, you will never be the loser."

· "Contemplating deeply for one hour (with sincerity) is better than 70 years of (mechanical) worship."

· "To listen to the words of the learned and to instill unto others the lessons of science is better than religious exercises."

· "Acquire knowledge: it enables its possessor to distinguish right from the wrong, it lights the way to heaven; it is our friend in the desert, our society in solitude, our companion when friendless - it guides us to happiness; it sustains us in misery; it is an ornament among friends and an armor against enemies."

Ibrahim B.Syed, Ph.D.President of Islamic Research Foundation International, Inc