the subtleties of the inimitable mulla nasrudin by idries shah

7/21/2019 The Subtleties of the Inimitable Mulla Nasrudin by Idries Shah

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T Sus oft Inil

MUL

RUDb

!DRES SH

T AGN RSS

NDN



Cp © Oc P L

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PO Box 227, London N6 4EW, Engand

ISBN 0 8630 40 3

Firt ublihed 973Firt mpreion in ti edition 1985

Reprnted 989Reprinted 993

eprned 999

Prnted n Great Britain byRedwood Books rowbridge Wtshire



Radio 3

Where there's a wll . 4

I mght do you a favour 5

Needs 6

The end of the world 8

A bite 9

Gossip IO

Satised 11

Costly 12

Prolems of lonelness 13

Arabic scholar 14

The problems of delay 15

Te oete It takes one to know oe 17

Get the facts straight 18

Cow wth calf 19

Let's have t evey day 20

The value of the man 21

Clearing the matter up 22

Hold that wolf 23

Contents

Mracles have detals 24

The water shortage 25

Wfe and secetary 26

ow to keep t gong 27

ooking 28

Must be one of them 29

Mstake detty 30

Whats left 31

The true and te false 32

First tme 33

Tred to fool hm 34

Dveso 35

e as 3ow to get out of touble 37

What could become of what 38

Large and small 39

atc out! 40

They don't wok 41

Stop-Go 42

Temperatures 43



Time 4

Feedback 45Psychoogy 46

When to do what 4 7

The speed-traveller 48

It depends how you

loo at it 49

arning 50

Don't jump to concusions 5

Smooth trees 52

Two for one 53

Myself 54

One mans meat 55

Saute 56

The cock 57

Not a good pupil 58

Ethoogical reection 59Quality and quantity 60

Socia conscience 6

Bath song 62

Wife, thief and donkey 63

How much? 64

The election meeting 65

hts wh the rcit

it 66

A reason for everything 67

What you hadn't thought

of. . . 68

Motive power 69

The right requirements 70

Camel fodder 7

Tyranny of the majority 72

A mater of anguage 73Too ae 74

Memory 75

A hundred years 76

ine donkeys 77

I ony hope I'm ill 78

The iness of my wife 79

Donkey lost 80

Freakish 8

The Company's time 82

Grey and white 83

Esoteric 84

Automation 85

Names 86

The chak 87

Lost propery 88So ho 89

Is it me? 90

Ambition 9

Copyist 92

No relative 93

Service 94

Shoes 95

Two halves 96

Probem of communication 97

The trip 98

The same strength 99

Second thoughts

How to catch Nasrudin

The wil of Alah 02



Acdms

a aud tuat touout twold av lpd th ambl of tal T cotbuto ha cludd ta

lato, tap-cod, copa vaat, ct tov mmat commut ad lta ac

wish to thank all of them. Representatives are thellow Abdl-Kam Suhavd, Kha Abdul Kam

Kha, Gt Evald Ado, Su Awa Al Sa,Sada M Al Hua Kha, B, Do ImalBaa, S Edw Capma-Adw, M K Chaudu,Hla Edwad, Sk Fakhudd alAmud, ShafFaris el-Helebi, Feroz Abdali, Leon Flamholc, HazratHaz Abdulla, Ba Ildm, Sad Ikada, Jam ElAz, Edwad P. Lumd, Davd ad, Ya M a

ad D Zk l-Maa



Sayig of Mulla Nasrudi

If I survive this life without dying, I'll be surprised.

I



Sy of sd

f kw wa two ad two w

would a Fou!



Radio

W n Mull Nruin rriv at te immigrin barrir in Lnn, t cr incr k:

Wr r y m?'Nruin iGrrrr T Et.'m?'

Mull, , Nrrrrgrruin!'Hv yu n ipimnt in yur pc?'W- n!'Tn wy u tlk like tt?'Pip-pip-pip I grr lernt it m Engli B !'



Wh h's will . . .

ull, Mull, my n written m teAbe Lerning t y tt e cmpletely nie i tuie!'

nle yurel, mm, wit te tugt tt Gwill n ubt en im mre'

4



I might do you fvour

uin w ennile, but i nt wnt iien Alm t knw it UntuntelAlm ke im cnge gl cin

It i te w,' i Nuin.Hw wn, Mull?'S wn tt it i wt le tn te te f excnge.

T mene ele.'

N, I tut u Give me jut wt u tink it iwt.'

Well,' i te Mull, it eem t me t be wt little tt u wul ve t me meting t tke it u n.'



Needs

t Mull mrg m t mqu trprr, bggr itting in t trt icitlm T llwing cnvrtin nu

Mull Ar u xtrvgnt?'Bggr Y, Mull'Mull D u lik iting run rinking c n

mking?'

Bggr Y'Mull I upp u lik t g t t bt vr ?'Bggr Y'Mull � An mb mu url, vn, b rinking

wit ur in?'Bggr Y, I lik ll t ting'

Tut, tut,' i t Mull, n gv im gl pic

A w rd rtr n, ntr bggr w vr-r ti cnvrtin bgg r lm imprtuntlMull Ar u xtrvgnt?'Bggr N, Mull'Mull D u lik itting run rinking c n

mking?'Bggr N'ua u u t g t vr d'Bggr N'Mull An mb mu url vn, b rinking

wit ur in?'

Bggr N, I wnt nl t liv mgrl n t pr'rupn t Mull gv im mll cppr cinBut ' ild t ggr, u giv m, n



cnmic n piu mn, pnny, wn yu giv ttxtrvgnt w vrign?

rpi t Mu, i n r grtr tnyur'

This tale is reprduced b curtes f Si Edwi Chapm-drews



Th e end of th e world

n will t n t wrl cm, Mull?'Wic n t wl?'Wll, w mny r tr?'

Tw, t Grtr n t Lr I my wi i, tti t Lr En t Wrl But i i tt i tGrtr En t Wrl'



A bie

aud vtd a t t o ad om:

oud ou l a o a t od avd t ulla a ta a lall

ot mo ta a molAt that momt a ba lood tou t do

T t outd:

Go awa o I'll ba ou c!Bot ad aud to t ba o awa qucl

I ca ttf tat oc a ma o txaat! '



Gossip

'Mulla, your wife is a terrible gossi She visitseveryone in town and gossips all the time.'

I don't believe that - otherwise she

would surely have droped in on me om time to time and

gossied - and she has never done that !'

IO



Sted

aruin mv int a nw uT ptman ca an aiI p tat yu ar ati wit t mai

ivri'Mr tan ati' ai Naruin an in ct m

tmrrw yu may ub my rr'

II



y

ruin pn bt wit ign bv it:TWO QUESTIONS ON ANY SJECT

ANSWERED FOR £5

A mn w tw vry urgnt qutin n vri mny, ying:

iv pun i rtr xpniv r tw qutin,

int t?Y, i Nruin, n t nxt qutin, pl?



Pbems neiness

Smeting igtene Mull Nruin e wwlking wn r He trew imelf int itcn ten begn t tink tt e been igten

t etAftr time e becme ver cl n ungr. He wlk

me n tl i wife te new, n went bck t iitc.

Hi wife, bbing bitterl, went t te neigbur rcmrt M ubn i e, ling in itc'

Hw u knw?'Tere w nb t e im, t cme n

tell me imelf, r er'



Th pbms

ur-ngin ircr w in rub, n cpin vic cm rug upkr

On ur ngin i uy, bu r i nngr It wi mn w wi b v minut ,ying n ny r ngin

Sm pngr wr i , bu Mu, w w mng , pk cmringy

iv minu n mk muc irnc, inS vryn cm wn

Sn rwr, wvr, y r cpinvic gin

Anr ngin i muncining W cn mng ntw ngin, bu i wi mn w wi b n ur in rriving

Sm pngr m uny, bu Mugin r mW i n ur, r ? I i br n ging n

nky-bck T pngr ccp i pipy,n in ir gin

Hry nr l ur p br y rt pi vic gin

I f ngn u rr W b n ur in rriving urinin

Mul Nruin iL u p ngin n brk wn, r

w b up r y



The ese

e ete wa athe uie t ee uch anunlikel gue a Naruin aling a b.I'll give u a chance,' he ai, althugh u

n't lk the te wh cul ell tee Take thi axe anch wn a man tee a u can m that lantatin'

Ate thee a Nauin ete t him.Hw man tee have u elle?'

All the tee in the lantatin.'The ete lke, an ue enugh thee wee n teelet N auin ha ne a much wk a wul beeecte m thit men.

But whee i u lean t ch tee at that ate?'In the Sahaa eet.'But thee aen't an tee in the Sahaa!'

N thee aen't

ai Nauin.

al: I u can ell tee, u can ell tee.



I akes ne knw ne

rtl jker hllened Nrudn n thetehue:

Pele u re ver lever. But I et u hundred ld ece u cnt l me!

I cn, jut wt r me, d Nrudn, nd wlked ut.Three hur lter, the mn w tll wtn r Nrudn

nd h trk. Fnll he cneded tht he hd een led.

He went t the Mull' hue nd ut f ld h rfet thruh the wndw.Nrudn w ln n h ed, lnnn h trk. He

herd the chnk f cn, und the nd cunted theld.

Gd, he d t h wfe, knd detn h ent memethn t m et wth f I le. Nw ll I hve t d

t thnk ut me trtem t l the ker wh , ndt mtentl, wtn me n the tehue.



Ge he cs sih

gui w king prty run t BriiMuum Ti rcpgu i v unyr l'

A br gur wi urbn pp rwrYu r mikn,' i Nruin, r i i v

un n r yr 'Evryn w impr, n gui w n p

Ty p in ntr rmTi v', i gui, i w un v unryr '

Tw un v unr n r,' innNruin

Nw k r,' i gui, w cn yu ing prciy? n' cr i yu cm m

Et, pp u n' knw ing lik t'Simpl,' i Nruin w r r yr gT im yu i v w w un v unryr '

Mr ' r n yu ink



Cw wih ca

Mulla wt to makt to ll ow, butobod watd to bu

A bou am alo ad ad:Lt m t, ou do t all woI mut la t at, thouht t MullaFtla ow, alf v mot! lld t

bou I xt to o tm t amal wa old

avd om, aud ud tat a ouma ad alld to qu about ma daut

All t Mulla dd wa to t out wl aqud kll wa amazd b t pd at w t uto udom t ou



s hv i v

ruin r in vig in h mi F w pr n him m i, hre w inging n ncing in h

, ppl k him in hir hm n r himik king

I ny ur vilg w ik thi!' i h MuNby giv nyhing wy r '

Bu Mu,' i h vigr, hi i pci ccin,n nnu y 'Thn I cn mk my wn cnribuin in h

i,' i Nruin A yu hv (n w cn iin my vig w) i iniu nnu e ik hi y'

20



The ve he mn

u wn?' i e king Nruin,w mnge wi me icul gen uience

A millin gl piece,' i e Mullul u n mke i le?' ke e urprie king.O, e, I cul mke i ve piece.'Tere i rer ipri beween e w um,

urel?'Ye Te millin gl piece i w re wr; e

ve i w m wr.'

21



Ca h ma p

og ule e ro beween wo oue.Ec neigbour clime e oer oulcler i up.

Nruin w in cour wen e mer cme bere eummry juge.

Ti juge reene Nruin' climing o be njuicor in common lw. Te ce w icul, o e

ecie o ke Nruin own peg or woI will bie by your eciion, Mull Nruin,' e i,

ince i i icul ce. You ve e nl wor.'My eciion', e Mull immeiely nwere, i

ince i i r e juiciry o cler up mer in ipue oul clen i up.'

22



d h

aruin an a ici wnt int a n t catca wf-cub.

Naruin wnt n rt an un a rcan fu-grwn wf wic attack im Tr wa atrrib gt.

In t mi f t ncuntr, t ici cri ut:St king ik tat, I'm af cvr wit art!'

Y,' ga t Mua, an if I t wat I'm ing,t tr af f yu wi b cv a w.'

23



Maces have deais

0ne da Narudn ut a ccken t rat n en,and went ut r a tme.

A lcal wag ubttuted a le ccken.Wen Narudn came back e und te ue ur

runded b llagerNaruin,' te cre, Akram a erfrmed a mracle.

He a brugt ur ratng brd back t lfe.'

Te Mulla ened te en dr, lked n, and tenturne t ce te crwd.

Mracle are all er well, but tere are certan matterf detal. D u tink tat ur wer t wrk wnder,wc I eel acknwlege n te eience bere me,ge u te rigt t teft? Yu ae ane m pceand alt. W wll a r te rewd wated? Wrt f

al, u ae caued m ert n rearng te wl tdaear.'



The wae shae

hee a a eiou ate hotage in the MidlandDue to lack of ain, the lake hich ulied acetain city' eevoi ee lo

The ouncil advetied a ate-divineaudin, ho a oking in a neaby ctoy,

volunteeed to helHe tiulated that he ould have to ok at hi ate

oducing on Mondayhen the day came, intead of taking a diviningod,Mulla audin, uounded by a cod of cuiouectato, took o hi hit, called a tub and omeate, and tated to ah the hit

Evey no and then he looked at the ky.Someone oteted:

hat ha ahing you hit got to do ith ndingate the city?'Patience,' aid audin, it i not the ahing that

doe it Evey ol kno that it i jut hen you hang theclothe out to d that the ain come elting don'

25



Wi n sc

y v n intrting cutm in Engln,' iNruin, n it i n tt I wul lik t cpy'

Wt i tt'Buinmn tk tir crtri t Pri n prtn

tt ty r tir wiv'But yu vn't gt crtry!'I v tugt tt. All I v t i t tk my wi

t Pri n y tt i my crtry'



p i in

u Nruin u t tn in t trt nmrkty t b pint ut n iit

N mttr w ftn pp r im r n m cin wy c t mr piec.

On y kiny mn i t imMu yu u tk t bir cin. Tn yu wil

v mr mny n pp wi n nr b b t mk

uintck f yu.'Tt mit b tru' i Nruin but if I wy tk

t rr pp wi tp rin m mney t prvtt I m mr iitic tn tey r Tn I wu vn mny t '



Ck

ulla Narui mae aueati meatballa l them at a tall i the treet, with ai beie him icribe : EALLy WAN O

BE A SEN.

After a time the ele f the tw cul t ta theiht r mell f Narui a hi meatball. S themae a cllecti

G awa a tu, Narui, r heae ake Herei the me r it, ai their rereetatie; a, b thewa, what u wat t tu?

ker ai Mulla Narui



Must be one of them

There were twin brothers in Nasrudin's village,and one day e was told that one was dead.

Seeing one of them in the street, te Mulla

rushed up to him:

Which one of you was it that died?'



Misaen ideni

lla Naudin wa ve ill and evenetugt tat e wa ging t dieHi wife deed in muning clte and

tated t wee and wailMulla Naudin alne wa unetubedMulla' aked ne f i dicile w i it tat u

can ce deat wit uc calm evn lauging m time t

time wile we w ae nt ging t die ae in tment letu leave ?Qite imle' aid Naudin. A I lie ee lking at

te lt f u I a t melf "Te all lk teibletat I am almt ue te Angel f Deat will mitake ateat ne f tem i e wen e cme viiting andeave ld Naudin ee a wile lnge .. "'



Wha's le

M ull udin went t dnke mketAe u in te mket dnke?

mecnt ked imYe id udint but ne f tee emkbl ndme bet?Jut minute id te Mull I wnt u t w me

te t dnke u ve

Te e te wtVe well ten Ill tke te et

3 1



n s

he ua as hrs as he aked on he seashore,and he sooped don o ake a drnk The aerased horre, and he rushed o he vae e,

a oo e aaQk, ve e a pher o aer he asped ou o a

oan ho as dran soe., ua, are ou hrs?

es I u rs I have o sho an imposto ha reaaer ke !

3 2



Fs ime

Th a a d o a o ho hkd ho had a m o ho paadd

h o ha ah od hoo o o dh h oom aod h ho h o a dd P hadh h o

h Dk o Bakh .

h a a o o odo:B m h ad a ho ha ha dda al



ied him

asrudn as a a oa ae. e had eenshoun un ha-e, and e hrs.I on o e a drnk o aer, he od hs

end.And one r e, sad he end.In a e nues Nasrudn ae ak.I red o have a drnk o aer r ou, u I und,

aer had had on drnk, ha ou ere no hrsaer a.

ora: I ou rea an a drnk o aer, drnk ourse.

3 4



Divrsin

sd s m sd sps m d

A m s m d Nsd d sd:

'I m z m pp sd v s sd Nsdh s s?

N h s s s N m d



T m

0ne da Nasrudn as akn o on hen he5a soe oods he road

I onder h peope don o ha a as ashoru o he on he used e deded o r

ala aross hs o en no a arsh and hs shoeae o and as suked under

A rh he sad o he ud 'I kno h no e

e ak shoeThe ud sad nohnSo he ulla reraed hs seps o he road alked no

on and hen en ak o he mud arsh arsh hesad I have ven ak he soen e and eor o heshoru: no ve e ak slpper

No anser so he reahed no he ud and aer a rea

srule he und hs shoeThs ud s ovous deerned o ake eeronepa r hs sakes Bu ahouh he s he keeper o hepul onsene sad he ula aoud he s a hporeere s shoe rh enouh; u he ud has no onaken neres akn e srule so uh he hasdred he shoe as el



How to get out of rouble

man had llen between the rails in an Underground station when Nasrudin came along oneafternoon. People were crowding around, all

trying to get him out bere a train ran him over.They were shouting, 'Give me your hand! But the man

would not reach up.The Mulla elbowed his way through the crowd and leant

over to the man. 'Friend, he said, 'what is your profession?'I am an income-tax inspector, gasped the man.'In that case, said asrudin 'k my hand! The man

immediately grasped the Mullas hand and was hauled tosafety.

Nasrdin turned to the openmouthed audience. 'Neverask a tax man to you anything, you ols, he said, and

walked away.



Wha coud ecome wha

Hakim went to a restaurant and ordered boiledeggs

The crafty proprietor gae him a bill e siler pieces.

Hakim protesed that this was r oo much.'If I had kept those eggs and _the hen had hatchd m

they would hae become chickens said the esaua

man 'and their progeny and heirs and theis would haeproduced millions of eggs worth much more than ecoins. You hae had your eggs cheap.

The local judge was Nasudin and Hakim took hicomplaint to him. The esaurant ma had o go algtoo to defend his case.

Nasudin a hat time head his cases a home becu

he said tha 'justice always appeas in li.When he had head the to arguments Nasudin ksome corn and boiled it. Then he let i cool a lile andplanted it spoonl by spoonl in his gaden.

'Whateer ae you doing asked the wo.'Planting corn so that it will multiply said Nasud.'Since when could something which had been bild

multpl le tat ust out e esauan owne.'That is the judgment of this cou said Nsud.

'Good day to you boh.



Large and sa

Br Mulla Nasrudin bcam a Su, h usd tthink just lik thr ppl.

H wnt t pra r smthing h vr muchwantd in th Grat Msqu. But thr was n rsult vnthugh h wnt thr vr da r mnths

Whn h ndd his nds t anthr man, th thrsaid:

'Wh d u nt tr praing in th f ShikhAhan? It is an ratr, lik a small msqu, attachd t thSus hus

Th Mulla wnt thr and trid again.Th vr nxt da his prar was answrdNasrudin wnt t th Grat Msqu Standing utsid

h addrssd it with ths wrds

'Fr sham! T think that a bab msqult cald a culd d what a grwnup lik u cannt



Wch !

woder what ca do Nardi aked hi iedWali. eople thik rde whe ph arrow ehid the hoti id or ack

No real diclt aot that aid Wali he Elihare cltred ad the dot like rohe that all

he two et aai a few week later Wali aidHow are o etti o with our arrow

or adice wa o ood tried a it of cltre tpeople till thik cltiatedWhat r did or cltiated ehaior taketead of hoti "id or ack elled at

the top of oice o that thed e re to hear"R! he ot ite aoed



They don't work

n ngnr was xng a bll osd a hosMlla Nasrdn cam by, sod and askd

'Wha s h hng?'Fr alarm.'v sn hm brhy don work, sad h MllaWha do yo man?'Th bll rngs all rgh, b h r brns s h sam



Sp-G

One evening Nasrudin was stopped by a policeman'This is a smmons r driving through a ''Stoplight.

The la saidWhen I go into cort I shall ask r it to be balanced

against a te times I have stopped at the "Go light andnever been credited r it

42



mps

rin w prciing cA in pn in i f

nigC nc, v fvrW yr prr b 150 gr n n , i M, y n r

brig



arin was arging with a man who knew rmore aot everthing than he i n itseeme he col alo match ever one of the

lla accomplihment.Finall the challenger ai :arin. Let have a contet to ecie who i etter

at everthing. Yo propoe omething. o matter what it

i ll garantee to o it in half the time.ccepte ai arin. n ntil it is ecie hee witnee here well e coniere evenl matched.Here i m choice well ee after a thosand ear of mlifetime whether o have age onl ve hnre ear.



c

in w n fing vry w. H cin c

n pgiv' i h phyicinI wn cn pinin' i NinAn pin' i h cn cSn nh c' i h MMg i h ny nw in c ik hi' i h

hi chNw w hv h pcipin' i h M

hi f c hi f pg n n-hi f mg Th h c hing p nicy'



Psychology

Mulla Nasrudin went to see a psychiatrist. Hesaid:

'My trouble is that I cant remember

aything

'When did this start? asked the doctor.

'When did what start said Nasrudin



When h

M ulla Naruin n iappar hik r hr wk

Whn h a bak h wa all in hiplr' .

Whr hav u bn Naruin u an' vanih rwk n n wihu priin.'

'I wa nl llwing ur inruin'

Explain urlf''I wn in ur ak r a hlia u wrn'

hr bu I aw ni n ur k - "no IT NOW" -

an I id'



The speed-traveller

asrudin married a widow.Five days aterwards she gave birth to ason

The Mulla went out at once and started to buy schlequipment.

People asked'Why are you buying all these things?

Nasrudin said:'I my boy has accomplished a ninemonth journey inve days he will be ready r school any day now.



I dpnds h y k a i

T ottn aon on h donkey a Nadn watyn to eat oe bey-o Bt each tehe ted o epty ome ot o the ba nto h

oth the wnd bew t awayA pan e caed ot:What ae yo don aAt th ate' ad Nadn 'I a not don anythn at

a'



Wning

adin enered he Land of FooO peope' he cried in nd evi arehaef!'

He did he ame hing every day r ome weekOne day a he wa abo o ar hi ecre he aw a

grop of Foonder ding wih ded armWha are yo doing'

We have j decided wha o do abo a hi in ndevi yo have been aking abo a he ime'So yo have decided hn i'No we have decided o hn

50



Dn't jmp t cnclsins

thogh he w ppod to be wie nd hon, Nrdin w cced o being otiiterte

One d the rer o hi contr decided to pt thi tothe t

Write oething r e, Nrdin, id heI wod wiing do o, b I hve tkn n oth never

to write o ch inge ettr gin, id NrdinWe, write oething in he w in which o ed towrite bere o dcded not to write, o tht I cn ee whtit w ike

I cnnot do tht, ece ever tie o rte oethngor wrting chnge ight throgh prctc I I wrotenow, it wod be oething written r now

Then bring e n xpe o hi wriing, none whoh one, ordered he rerSoon broght erribe crw ht the M hd

once written to hiI thi or writing? ked the onrchNo, id Nrdin Not on doe writing chnge

wih tie, bt o re now howing piece o wrtingdone e o deontre o oeone ho he hod

nt wrte

51



Smooh ees

asrudin ca a sa twn wssqu cud nt ard a inart

Wn saw is rst inart t zzinwas wakin arund t sa patfr nar t tp caint it t prayr at t ur pints f t cpass.

Nasrudin cad upBr yu t trappd in tat pcuiar psitin yu

sud av ad sur tt t tr was nt s sttat yu cud nt ci dwn.'

52



o o one

' w h ae ou dain ou ie toad themaket-pace ike that ua?

hae ut had a iiant idea She i ea od toda and popoe to exchane he to tenteaod



Myself

Amonk said to Nasrudin:

I am so detached that I never think of myself,

only of others.'

Nasrudin answered

I am so objective that I can look at myself a if I were

anothe person; so I can aord to think of myself'

54



One mns me

rn c crnv n rrb , Arb fncyr rpp rbbn

M,' n w w wng r , yk f y v bn bn p!'

v, 'B pp n' b r p r wrng fncy

r!'Hw cn y xpln r w y n r, lkng r Arb b p'



Sae

din w ping tog t Lnd ofFoo on dy on donky-k. On t od pd two o oti podding ong

on foot. Good monng d t . wond y pok to m nd not to yo on of

th o id to t ot.o idiot it tt pok to not yo!

Soon ty w ing on t gond Bt tn ittk thm ot t on tt ty od n Ndinnd k im to tt t qtion. Ty mpd p ndmpd ft hm.

Wn ty ny gt im p ty otd togt:

Wi of w yo ying "Good moning toT id:T gt of t two foo!Tt dnity ! id t t foo.Nonn it oioy ! id t ot.Ndin ft tm tgging n t dt.



Th cc

he Mllas lok was alwas wrongCant o do something aot that lokMlla ? someone asked him

What?Well it is never right Anthing wold e an improve

ment on thatThe Mlla hit it with a hammer t stopped

Yo are right o know he said this reall is animprovement did not mean literall nthing. How an it e etter

now than it was ere?Well o see ere stopped it it was never right

Now it is right twie a da isnt it?

Moral t is etter to e right sometimes than never to eright at all

57



N ppi

O ne da ua asrudn und a tortose He tedt to hs et and ontnued hs ork n the eds.The tortose startd to strugge. The ua

ed t up and asked:hat's the matter don't ou ant to earn ho to

pough'



Eic eecin

w hy Mulla don't you spend some tmepractsn hher rms of thouht n orderto mproe yourself?'

For the same reason that lons don't catch sh'Oh you mean that you are not equpped r t?'No only mean that haen't ot around to t yet'

59



Qi n qni

asrud as tak a doke-load of raesto marketGrous of small hldre ket e

raes ut he ol ae them a er small hadful eah.You are mea asrud!' the shouted.ot at all' sad the ulla I am do ths to llustrate

the slless of hldre. All these raes taste the same.Oe ou hae had some ou ko hat all the rest arelke. So t does't matter hether ou hae ma or just afe.'



Scia cnscience

S omeone told Mulla Nasrudin that he should be asconcerned about the were of others as he wasabout his own

Accordingly, he next tie he saloe a outhl ofhot soup, he rushed ou into the village stree, crying

'Beware, beware, my stomach is on re!



Bh sn

coustics in Nsrudin's btroo wr unusuy ttringOn dy, cptivtd by t buty of is voic,

tougtWy soud not sr tis digt wit otr Tru

Bivrs H rusd to t top of t nrst inrt nd strtd

to c t orning pryr.Soon soutd up to i:diot! Not ony is it not t ti r pryr, but your

voic is trrib! 's,' sid Nsrudin sdy, w wi v to wit unti

soon buids bt up r br ty wi pprcit'



Wife, thief and donkey

he Mulla was ied of feeding his donkey. Heasked his wife o do i bu she esed and i allended wih a disue in which hey decided ha

whoeve soke s would feed he donkey.The Mulla sa down soically in a cone. His wife was

soon boed and wen o visi he neighbous. As sueime aoached she sen a boy wih a bowl of sou f he

Mulla.In he meanime a ief boke ino he silen Nasudinhousehold. He sole eveyhing he could see. As he Mullawas siing immobile and seechless he even ook he haom his head. Then e lef.

holy afewads he boy wih he sou aived.Nasudin ied o elain wi gesues a a hief ad

been hee bu all he boy could see was ha he eoining agiaedly a is head om wich he ha adbeen emved

Taking he gesue a an ode he boy oued he souon he Mullas ead and wen back o eo he sangecicumsances o he Mullas wife.

he huied home eeing all he doos oen and hecupboards empty, she started to curse Nasrudin.

Nasudin said:Now go and feed e doney and loo well a wa you

have achieved hough you s�ubbonness.



Hw much?

asud had saed a ot o moeSomeoe asked hm to o to a maequiaade.

tads he s ked ho he ked tIts a omete sd!hThe sho ou the ome ad the t to sell ou

the othes !



The eecion meeing

I t was bere the elections The town had invitedall the candidates to address the citizens in thecity hall

Nasrudin was invited as an exotic local character toentertain

When all three candidates had spoken the Mullamounted the platrm and said

I have come here to oer you my own special recipeMae a note of this and try it on yourselves.He went on to say that certain uantities of honey

garlic and sh were to be boiled together and then eaten.Quite a number of people tried the recipe.The taste was horrible. Several of them stormed

Nasrudins house wanting to know what he meant bysuch a trick.

Well said Mulla Nasrudin I didnt say that I liked itin ct I had not tried it on myself But it seemed such agood idea to me I wanted to see whether it would workThats what election candidates do isnt it?



That's why they appreciate it

'N

ever give people anything they ask r untilat least a day has passed! said the Mulla.

'Why not, Nasrudin?'

'Experience shows that they only appreciate something

when they have had the opportunity of doubting whether

they will get it or not.

66



A sn vhin

asrudin, starvin with huner went to aaf and started to his mouth with od,usin oth hands

His neihour was assin, and stoedWh eat with two hands, ua Beause I havent ot three



ha you hadn' hough of . . .

I someone doesnt say somethng to entetan meshouted a tyanncal and eete kng 'Ill cut othe heads o eveyone at cout.

Mulla Nasudn mmedately steed wad'Majesty dont cut o my head Ill do somethng'And what can you do?'I can teach a donkey to ead and wte

The kng sad :'Youd bette do t o I ay you alve'Ill do t sad Nasudn 'but t wll take e ten yeas'Vey well sad the kng 'you can have ten yeasWhen the cout was ove the day the gandees

cowded aound Nasudn'Mulla they sad 'can you eay teach a donkey to ead

and wte?'No sad Nasudn'Then sad the wsest coute 'you have ony bought

a decades tenson and anety you wl suey be doneto death Oh what ly to ee ten yeas sueng andcontemlaton o death to a uck ash o the headsmansae

'You have overlooked just one thing said the Mulla.'The Kng s seventyve yeas old and I am eghty. ongbee the tme s u othe elements wll have enteed thestoy



Motive power

asudins little boy had been leaning aoutbooks at schoolHe came home one day and said:

Fathe, could I have an encyclopedia to take o school?o you cannot'But lots of the othe childen have got them'I dont cae about that. You just go on the tain, like

me and most othe people.

9



Th ih qimns

S oon askd th uaIs t possb r a hundrdarod an to haa hd

Ys, h sad, prodn that h has an aop,sa, n th tnts or thrts



Camel fodder

I aaad ua asrud as s aeaouse e a sraer aked ad sa doesde m.

Te eomer sad s a ma oer ere so s ear ouBeause I ae us arred om s ome o ad od

m a a s er ame dder as os a re.

I s erre o e a earer o su ds sad esraerI s aso eres o e e ma o sor e

m e ood es sad asrud. You see s amesae ded o a aue so e o eed e dder aera.



Tyranny of the majority

t oe ot s e te etre ouato o sae ad ad eou o te easatres adosos o ua asrud.

e a et to te mastrate ad he ae a ru:asrud te o te eoe I ae to deare

tat ou must eae te aeAre te uamous asked te uaYes I am aad so.e I reuse to o ere are et o tem ad

o oe o me I te do't ke te ae as t s tea eae ad ud aoter oe But I a se dduao a I ee start to ud oe sma ouse r mseeseere



A m

rudn n o f hd by h GrndL of Tbou y no kno our cuo, h

nrprr od h, nd o u you h hGrnd L rgrds ry unuck o nz

rbr h, d NrudnA h grnd of h L onry r prn,

nd n h dd of h f, hn brzn horn uddny bon, Nrudn nzd rgh no h c ofh L

Afrrd h nrprr d o hOur r ky o hv bn o up Nobody

h drd o nz hr r hound yr, ou ofrpc

Oh, don hnk you nd o gv nohr hough,d h Mu ou , nzd n y on ngug,no n h. H oud nvr h rzd h ry



T a

lla asd had ee lad seeal eas Ate settl el hehad stated t te et e had msed

thsands eses ad he ad hs eds had deeeth the ld t mte hm

Hs ed Wal d hm stt th hs head hshad, sbbg bttel

Chee , asd, he sad t at be as ad as althat

Bt t s sad asrd I hae jst dseed thatI a et

ll he d sd l s e e the ll eel bette

Bt at d that Ie ee eleted Pet heCenr b the Aadem Clte e ee ms

se esteda



Memory

' H

. ow are you getting on with that memory-training corse you got by correspondence,

Mulla?'

I'm improving Now I can sometimes remember that I

have frgotten something.'

75



A s

h kin f bir h ck y grnwih, g inn'Why, M, h j h hing r

y prr, hy i r hnr yr'W, y knw hw ci . J gi n

ry , n ' b bck if i h i y y'



Nine dnkeys

asrud oce udertook to take e dokeysr delery to a local rmer

The ma ho etrusted them to hmcouted them oe y oe so tat Nasrud could e surethat there really ere e

O the road hs atteto as dstracted y somethy the aysde

Nasrud stt astrde oe of the amals coutedthem aa ad aa He could make t oly eht

Pacstrcke he umed o looked all oe the acead the couted them aa

There ere eThe he oted a remarkale th he he as

stt o dokeyack he could see oly eht dokeys

he hoeer he dsmouted there ere e fulleThs s the ealty reected the ulla r rd

he I should o dout e alk ehd the dokeysDd you hae ay dculty ett them here asked

the rmer he he arred dusty ad dsheelledNot after I leart the trck of dokey-drers alk

ed a aru ere tat tey ere l otrcks



I n hp Im i

in c lt ong th co iting th octo ttntionH pting in lo voic, ov n

ov gin hop vy ill, hop vy ill!H o oliz th oth tht thy init

on hi going in to th phyicin t only hop vy ill! h hot t th octoWhy ht to think tht nyon ho fl lik

lly t n ll!



The ilness o my wie

Good mor ua sad he oa door haa I do r ou

I s aou he ess o m eIs she Yes she sad ha Id eer me o e ou ha she

oud ke o see ouSha I ome a oe

o se od me aerards ha she as ee eerad so Ie ome o e ou ha ahouh ou oud havehad o ome she had o eer se she has reoeredou do eed o ome aer a



Doney lost

' M

ula, your donkey has disappeared.'Thank goodness I wasnt on it at the

time, oterwise I would have disappeared

t!

Bo



h

n g in cnvrin wi Nrin,ning i p.

Nrn f bb n i c Tn k

Hw fn y vTwny r iry i y, i M b k!

N, ny brbr.

81



Th Cmpn im

Th Mulla had akn a j n a cry Th ransaw h lay dwn hs ls and sar walkwards h dr

Wha d yu hnk yu ar dn' a n hav y har cu'u can' hav yur har cu n h Cpany's !'Bu rw n h Cpany's '

N all , yu ddn''All rh, hn, wn' hav all '

Mral u ay hav rwn yur har n Cpany ,u hs ds n an ha vryn wll undrsand yu



Grey and white

Nasrudin, when a child, asked his fther:'Why have you got grey hair?

'Because, Nasrudin, children asking im

possible questions make a mans hair white.

'I see, said the Mulla 'That explains why your own

fthers hair is snow-coloured



Esoteric

Aspiritual os named Khamsa once went toNasrudin and said:

Is it true that you have secret knowledge?'Tell me something of your own hig experiences,' was

al that Nasrudin would sayVery well. At night leave this plane of materiality and

rise to the highest heaven.'

Do you,0

Master,' inquired Nasrudin, feel that yource is being cled by some nlike object?'Yes, yes!' said amsa, thinking that this must be one

of the indications of higher attainment.In that case,' said Nasruin, you had better know that

te nike obect is the tail of my long-eared donkey'



Auomaion

The mnement hd clled mssmeetin of llemployees

y iends' sid he mnin diecto hve to nnonce tht s om month hence this ctoyis to o ove to totl tomtion'

Thee s sp om the hole dienceAll pocesses ill e cied ot y mchines This ill

men th the ok is done ette moe qickly nd moepotly'Wht ot s' someone clled otThee is no cse lm Yo ill e pid s s

ith nnl incements Yo ill contine to hve thesme ssidized cneen nd spots ciliies All yo illhve to do is to come in on Fidys to collect yo py'

Nsdin nion ocil stood pNot ever Fidy hope'

85



Nms

A crin cnqrr i Nrin M, gr rr f p nric i wi n f in

r w, r innc, -if, n -Accp,n n Hw b c n r

Frbi, i Nrin

86



h ch

arudin wa chalking a lgan n a wall inLndn n day Stppd y th plic hactd in uch a trang way that h wa

handd vr t th halth authriti, crtid inan andnt t an aylu

Th aylu wa ll f dangru lunatic Whn hwa puhd int th curtyard f h intitutin, th

inat crwdd hi with any a hut and craH tk hi pic f chalk h pckt Stand ack,vryn! h hutd

Surprid, th lunatic ydNarudin dividd th int tw ta, thn drw a

chalk lin n th cncrt twn thNw, h aid, all f yu jup undr that Th rt

an undr winThr wr trril caualti a th ta dahd

thlv again and again at th linNarudin wa rlad Ndy wa quit ur whthr

it wa cau f th injuri f h inat, r cau fhi rurcln with th chalk

Mral What gt yu int trul ay gt yu ut again



s pp

Nin w wking hgh h inighTh wchn k:

Wh y ing , M'My p h ipp n king i'

88



So hot

Nasrudin was very lazy. One day e eturnedfom a trip to the Gul, wic is extremelyhot i te summer.

Do you know wat?' he asked is ellow-illagrs, Ihave never been so continuously active in my lie as I wason te Gul'

Whatever were you doing, Mulla?'

Sweating.'

89



I i me P

rin wn in b wi cq cCn y inify yrf k

cr

90

Nrin k irrr n pr in i, rig, i



Amiin

rin w being inerviewe r eplyen in epren re

Te pernnel nger iWe like bii en ere W r f b re y

ferAll rig, i Nrin, ll ve our bAre y

my ell be, i te ul, ut i tt neeyqliin

rl Abiin i ll rig, prviing y nt gein e er fellw wy



p

N rin wn knw r b , in k i gry

W pin picr' k M, pping in n f g n cr cnv

ic y cn by ignr.'T vi Hw r cpy y cnr'

92



N liv

you r vry i, Mu,' i h nighbour Whor your riv?'

hvn' go ny.'Bu ury you o u h your ohr i iv?'Sh' iv righ, bu inc y hr ivorc hr,

hvn' riv in h wor'

93



Service

Nasrudin was in a patent ofce trying to patent amagic wand.

'Im sorry, said the clerk, we dont patentimpossible inventions.

So Nasrudin waved his magic wand, and the clerkdisappeared.

94



Shs

hif, wh pcii in ing h, wN ruin n y

Th u wn in mqu, wn nr y hi pryr Cnrry cum, h kp hih n.

Th hif, wh h wn hin him, w un ri inning uiy A pryr i wih h h n

n bi'N,' mur Nruin r hi hur, ut if th

i, h i mhing.'

5



o hves

asrudn pnd a lcur agncy H knw smany ppl wh fl ha hy had smhngnrsng say. Why n cm hr

agnTh ns wh fl ha hy wr nrsng hwvr

wr n usually nrsng ppl. H g many cpans.

x m I shall mak sur h sad.On day a lgram arrvd m a sudy scyPLEAE UPPLY A WT TO ADDRE OUR GROU ON

UNDAY

Ths m I can mak sur sad h ulla H sn f hs lcurrs and rpld y lgram WT

D CULT O N D O HAVE ENT TWO HAL-W

NTEAD

ral Th sum f h pars s n ncssarly qual hwhl.

96



Pm cmmunicin

L anguag said ulla Nasrudin as dvisd todscri actions as l as thoughts. That mansthat all ou hav to do is to gt th ords right and

vrthing ill undrstood.But ulla said a ind surl that cannot appl to

vrthings it should.

Thn can ou dscri to m ho th silk industr iscarrid outCrtainl. Th rst part is to gt th orms and

untist that hich is tistd. Th scond part is to gt ridof th orms and rtist that hich has n untistd.

97



The sme strenth

asud aeded a ecue a ma o aseac a posop aded do o m someoe o ved e eas ee

Te ua asked:Is s posop s pese m as appcae

oda amo a dee commu as as o decadesao?

Of couse s sad e ecue T s jus aexampe of e dcuous quesos c peope ask Aeac aas emas e same : uh cao ae!

Some me ae ua Nasud appoaced e samema a jo as a adee

You seem ae od sad e ecue ad I am osue a ou ca maae e jo

I ma ook dee sad Nasud u I ave esame se I ad e eas aoHe o e jo o e se of s assuace.Soo afeads e posope asked Nasudi o shf

a pavsoe om oe pa o e ade o aoe Tuas e m he ua coud o

I ou ou sad a ou ee as so as ou ee

I am aseed Nasud exac as so Teeas ao I coud o ave fed ee!

99



Second thoughts

H udeds o eoe ee seam aa ome ee mee o a ea Su easud as ma s a oads e

ouseSudde asud sa do e mdde o e oadOe o e eoe soed ad ased:a ae ou do

asud sad:e I was o o e ouse o e Su Bu seeeoe ese s o away om Im a seodous



The will of Aah

M a te o Aa e doe' a ous ma assa aout somet or oter.It aas s a ase' sad ua

asrudHo a ou roe tat ua 'Qute sm. I t as't aas e doe te

sure at some tme or aoter my oud e doe

oud't t'

102

the subtleties of the inimitable mulla nasrudin by idries shah

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