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October 2009 
The Walnut & The Pumpkin & Knowing What To Do
Joy Bringer
(Note: this story involves a fictional character named Mullah Nasruddin. The humorous tales about him are popular in the Mid East and in particular amongst the Afghan people).
One warm day, Nasruddin was relaxing in the shade of a walnut tree. After awhile he pondered the huge pumpkins growing on vines nearby and the small walnuts growing on a towering tree.
"Sometimes I just cannot understand the ways of God" he thought. "Why on earth does he let tiny walnuts grow on such a majestic tree and enormous pumpkins on those delicate vines!"
Just then a walnut fell from the tree and smacked Nasruddin square on top of his bald head. He got up at once and lifted his hands to the heavens in supplication.
"Oh my God! Forgive me for my questioning ways! You are the one who is all-wise. Where would I be now if pumpkins grew on trees!"
Knowing What To Do
I like that the point of convergence of liberation theology, Islamic mysticism, and engaged Buddhism is the sense of love that leads to commitment and involvement with the world, and not a turning-away from the world. A form of wisdom that I strive for is the ability to know what is needed at a given moment in time. When do I need to reside in that location of stillness and contemplation, and when do I need to get up off my ass and do whatever is needed to be done in terms of physical work, or engagement with others, or confrontation with others? I'm not interested in ranking one type of action over the other.~
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This is a great blog. Thank you for sharing it, Joy Bringer. I like what Jean Smith says about knowing what is needed at a given moment of time. To hold that energy of stillness and contemplation….or to get up off one's ass. When we're centered and quiet, it sometimes seems easier to know that exact moment to get up and moving, don't you think?
happy thoughts to wake up alongside!! ty ty
wonderful. Nasruddin stories are sheer delight.
Absolutely and positively true Kathy - they work together like nothing else. Just like the serenity prayer - we only have to learn and have the wisdom to know when… :)
Elisa - I am happy you enjoyed it & hopefully the best is yet to come in y/our days!
Hey Nicole - Nasruddin is such a vibrant character and the stories are sheer delight. Here's one more & you can check for another of his every month on this Nasrudin site.
Nasrudin went into a bank that he did not usually use and asked to withdraw a large sum of money from his account. The bank clerk was naturally suspicious and asked him politely:
“Have you any means of identifying yourself?”
Nasrudin reached down into the pockets of his long cloak and found an ornate mirror. He held the mirror up and looked studiously into it and exclaimed to the clerk:
“Yes, that's me all right.”
And another Nasrudin jewel. too funny to miss…
Ha ha, this is funny, too! giggling…..
These are wonderful. Thank You.
David
hmmmm. now I am hungry. :) Thank you for sharing this.
Nasruddin rocks:-)
Thanks for the giggles, Darina Joybringer! Hugs!