Naturally Unnatural

Life's Lessons - Joseph Mattappally

Quite unexpectedly, I happened to hear an interesting Nazruddin Hodja story last week. The story goes telling that at a crossroad, Mulla Nasruddin Hodja saw a portly nobleman riding towards him. "I say, Mulla," said the man. "Which is the way to the palace?" "How did you know I am a Mulla?" asked Hodja. The nobleman had a habit of addressing every scholarly-looking man as ‘Mulla’, which was a title given to learned men and meant ‘master’, but he didn’t want to tell Hodja that. "How did I know?" he bragged. "Well, I’m a mind-reader, that’s how." "Pleased to meet you," said Hodja. "As to your question, read my mind and proceed."

This story compelled me to ponder on people usually rolling over the compliments they get; doesn’t matter it is true or false. Have you ever asked a friend, “Do you read?” Suppose his answer was, “Of course, a lot!” What could you make out? Do you then think that he has covered all classics and epics in this world? Certainly no. But such an answer may mean that too. That’s the technique. Such a partially covered answer shows that he is suffering from aloofness mania, a drama which many people around us play on a regular basis, which hides their true nature. Psychologically speaking, the purpose is taking an upper hand in a given situation, creating an impression that he is superior to the other. The sad thing is that this mostly happens when the leading aspiration within is inferiority complex. Such people also do not know that leaving such a false impression leads to great avalanches later. There could also be shrewd Mullas everywhere.

 People basically refuse to be natural; this tendency has grown into a curse slowly eating away that little sanctity of any society. People think that being natural is more or less suicidal. They but do not know that carrying unnecessary loads of aloofness is much more suicidal. See what happens if all the society play aloofness. I’m reminded of an old story of a king who wanted to show out the generosity of his people to all the royal guests who came on a visit from another country. The king placed a huge barrel in front of the palace and ordered that people fill the barrel with the goat milk they collect that morning. The king wanted to share it for the breakfast next day. However, n­o one wanted to give away all the milk he had. So everyone added some water in the milk and filled the barrel thinking that he would be the only one adding water. In the morning, a thin liquid was poured out for the king and his court that it had no taste than the taste of meanness and greed. Being natural and speaking with utmost clarity is always a good attribute, which makes any one different and unique. They make themselves perfect and also part takes in the regeneration of the world too.
 

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