Thursday, January 22, 2009

Of flies & moths...

A flock of agitating flies visited the Emperor-moth (Shah-e-Parvana) and demanded that they too be given the esteemed 'Moth-status'. "We too have wings & can fly like you, then why this discrimination? Why this inferior treatment?", complained the fly-leader. "There is no task wherein the moths can better us", reasoned the fly-captain.

"Ok, lets test", replied the Emperor-moth. He formed 2 teams, one of the flies & the other of the moths and arranged for a competition. He assigned them the same task. "Go and find light!", he told them.

The flies & the moths rushed out with full vigor. Within a jiffy, the triumphant flies returned before the Emperor-moth. They were panting for breath from the rigors of their exercise. "There are wick-lamps burning mildly at the temple, there's a fire that's lit up by a farmer to roast the corn, there's a pyre burning by the river-side and also a stove that's warming milk for the little-ones... We managed to spot light at all these places & beat the moths by returning to u before them. The moths, in fact, haven't even returned as yet! Can the 'moth-status' be rightfully bestowed upon us now?", questioned the flies.

"The decision was made the moment u returned", replied the Emperor-moth.

Moral - If u find light in life, why return?


Acknowledgments - This was a parable narrated by a Sufi-singer from Karachi as part of a documentary being aired on NDTV 24X7 channel. He was highlighting the difference between spirituality & religion. Liked it, hence sharing it...

6 comments:

me said...

Didnt get the parallel... sorry :(

Sagar Bhanagay said...

Shama par mar-mitne waley parvane (true seekers of God/spirituality) laut kar parvana-e-khitab nahi maangte (do not return for titles/certificates/approvals/rituals of religion).

Preeti ( Edul || Todkar ) said...

The enlightened moths find light and die. The stupid flies find light and live. Ironic?

Noticed the use of “u”. Really?

Sagar Bhanagay said...

ऐरावत रत्न थोर ।
त्यासी अंकुशाचा मार ॥२॥

जया अंगी मोठेपण ।
तया यातना कठीण ॥३॥

me said...

okay I get it when you say it in urdu... my english is a bit rudimentary ;)

Sagar Bhanagay said...

I know... too much of right-to-left Urdu can sometimes make left-to-right English tricky :-)