One day a man with a cloth bundle arrived where Mulla Nasruddin was sitting. He looked like a traveller and sat across Mulla placing the bundle on the ground and asked a simple question:
Where is peace?
Mulla did not answer. All of a sudden he snatched the man’s bundle and started running. The man, at first taken aback, ran after him because the bundle contained all he had.
He chased Mulla through many streets and gullies. After a long race Mulla came back to where he was sitting. The man, huffing and puffing, came back too. But before he could ask or say anything further Mulla replied:
Here is peace.
***
This short story can be interpreted as many ways as the readers want.
My Takeaways:
One is not needed to chase peace. It is within one’s own self. It has to be just realised.
One does not need too many personal possessions to attain peace. It can be attained with as little as possible.
Being peaceful does not mean being careless about your own self. One has to take care of what one already has without hungering for more and more.
***
Wiki says:
“Mulla Nasruddin was a real historical person, but over the centuries he turned into a legendary folk character.
Historical records and a tombstone in Akşehir, Turkey, suggest he lived during the 13th century (around 1208–1285 AD) as a Sufi philosopher and witty satirist.
Archives from 13th-century Seljuk Turkey mention a real Nasreddin Hodja who lived in Sivrihisar and Akşehir.
As stories spread across the Silk Road into Greece, the Arab world, Iran, Central Asia, and India, people attached hundreds of humorous jokes and wisdom tales to his name.
He represents a cultural archetype—a clever person who acts foolish to expose human hypocrisy, pride, and absurdity.”
Do let me know your thoughts on the story in the comment section.
PS: This post stands revised in line with a conversation with dear blogger, Hazel of Seven Sisters fame. I am so privileged to have such thoughtful readers.
Image Courtesy X.com
I want to understand peace more in this story. Sounds thought-provoking
LikeLiked by 1 person
I am thinking of editing the post and adding my interpretation of the story. Thank you Hazel for reading, commenting and giving me the idea of expanding the post.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, gc. I’ll read the edited version.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I have edited the post. You can read it now and also add your own interpretation as well so that myself and others can be enriched by it
LikeLiked by 1 person
Amazing interpretation, gc. I agree. We can have (inner) peace on whatever we have now.
Chasing! We thought that all of our lives depended on things we possess, but sometimes, peace is just a kind of mindset we carry, and we just need an appreciative character to attain all of it.
Life is just complex sometimes, but this story is a great reminder that we can be happy and peaceful where we are right now on whatever we possess.
I think our posts have a similar message today, but just written differently.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Absolutely.
Spot on elaboration on the takeaways.
I draw a lot of strength from your posts.
I agree today’s post is thematically same.
Happiness and peace of mind go hand in hand.
Create happiness create peace.
Thanks Hazel. I love this conversation.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love it, too, gc, and you’re super kind. I feel so blessed to have you in my corner. Thanks for linking my post to yours. Such a beautiful gesture from you. Stay amazing!💚😇
LikeLiked by 1 person
The pleasure is entirely mine.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Please let me know when it’s done coz I’m excited to read the elaboration.
LikeLiked by 1 person
A simple but meaningful story. Sometimes peace is not something we have to chase—it is already within us. Loved your takeaway. ❤️
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you very much Maha for engaging with the story and your agreement with the takeaways.
LikeLiked by 1 person
On the spot.
Mulla Nasruddin stories are wonderful.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, I agree Rupali. They provide a chuckle and a chunk of wisdom.
LikeLike
The man with the bundle of cloth was already at peace,but he failed to recognise inner peace and searched for it outside himself,Shiekh made him run a long race to make him understand what happens to our lives when we search for peace ignoring our inner self.
Nice Post,Di
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Nusrat for this beautiful explanation.
It’s raining today here.
Remembering you…
LikeLike
Gurgaon submerged.Funny memes on the internet regarding it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s expected of Gurgaon 😂😂😂😂
LikeLike
Same here Di,few hours of rain and roads turn into rivers
LikeLiked by 1 person
I heard Kashmir is having flash floods
LikeLike
Some areas in the Jammu region and a few in Kashmir.
High temperatures,rain both going on.
Glaciers melted early
The Ice Shivling at Amarnath melted.
Nature paying us back.
LikeLiked by 1 person
True. Nature’s curse. Glaciers melting very worrying.
LikeLike
Only Mulla Nasruddin can make us understand
LikeLiked by 1 person
I wish…
We humans are so daft…but think we are smart 🤓
LikeLike
Sometimes I seriously feel animals may be laughing on our Kalay Kartoot
LikeLiked by 1 person
Even trees for that matter…
LikeLike
This story is so relatable! The peace has to be realized, because sometimes peace comes quietly. 👍
have a wonderful weekend! ☺️
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Aptivi and same to you
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re most welcome. Thank you so much! ☺️
LikeLiked by 1 person
A fine salutary tale
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much Derrrick 🙏
LikeLiked by 1 person
Peace begins the moment we stop looking for it everywhere else. 🦋✨
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’ve nailed it Rajeshwari!! Bravo…
LikeLike
I love characters like this, who teach lessons with absurdity. And just think, hundreds of years later and his lessons still hold true. 🙂
Thank you for sharing this! 😊
LikeLiked by 2 people
Yes, exactly…absurdity with meaningfulness…such an odd but effective combo.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Loved this story. I hadn’t heard this one before
LikeLiked by 1 person
Heard this long time back
LikeLiked by 1 person
When we were kids, his stories were very commonly related
LikeLiked by 1 person
I came to hear his stories much later but instantly liked them.
LikeLike
Based of common sense.
LikeLiked by 1 person
What a brilliant analysis!
I completely agree with your reflection on cherishing what we have instead of always wanting more.
Peace often consists simply in appreciating what we already have.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much Luisa. I really appreciate your supportive reading and comment.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re more than welcome!
LikeLiked by 1 person
A masterclass in human psychology! Mulla proved that peace isn’t the absence of trouble, but the sudden absence of anxiety. It is witty how he taught contentment by creating a crisis. Lovely read, Geeta Ji.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much Chetna. Long time…how are you ?
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m good, just a bit tied up 😊. Hope you’re doing well. I see you’ve been writing regularly lately, so it’s going to take me some time to catch up.
LikeLiked by 1 person
No issue. Take your time
LikeLike
This is a powerful line, “Being peaceful does not mean being careless about your own self. One has to take care of what one already has without hungering for more and more.”. For most of my life I have placed the source of my peace in others, in things that were outside of me and equalled life being peaceful to having the threads I connected to others as intact while my own threads were shredded. I have only learnt if I can be self-assured can I be peaceful. It is a work in progress but realization and remembering it each day is step one.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It is as much required that you cultivate the peace within you as having the support of near and dear ones to help you find peace. There is no shame in being dependent upon others for your peace of mind. However, the catch is that you have to give them as much peace, loyalty and support as they give you. You can’t take your pillars for granted.
LikeLiked by 1 person
“However, the catch is that you have to give them as much peace, loyalty and support as they give you.” is wonderfully expressed. It is a two way street 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I have to say, I had never heard of this historical figure, and this story was new to me! But it was a good one!
LikeLiked by 1 person