Last night I attended a Tibetan folk night at Tibet World, an NGO that promotes cross-cultural connections. One after another musicians, singers, dancers and story-tellers shared their craft. Today I pass along a Tibetan folktale as would have been told over a crackling fire by an elder of the community.
There was a beautiful lake. It was not a big lake but a small one. It was surrounded by trees and homes.
There were 3 friends who lived on the lake, 2 swans and a tortoise. They were the best of friends and did everything together.
After some time of living on the lake, the rain stopped coming. When there was no rain, the water in the lake went lower and lower. The lake was becoming dry. The 3 friends thought of what they could do. The swans could fly to another lake but that would leave the tortoise. They thought and thought some more. What could they do?
Finally they came up with a plan. They would take a stick and the swans would hold each side and the tortoise would hold the middle by his mouth. They would then fly to another lake.
As they took off, the townspeople came out to watch. They lined the lake and cheered the 3 friends on. Amazed by the sight he saw, a townsmen shouted "That is the smartest idea, who came up with the idea?" "I did" the tortoise responded as his mouth let go of the stick and he fell from the sky.
Moral of the story: Great ideas come from many and never take sole credit.
06.05.14
Dharamkot, India
10:49am
Tibet World: Where Tibet Meets the World. Where the World Meets Tibet.
"He is my father . . . no no, we are not related but we play the same instrument, the dramyin."
Classmates who sing and dance.
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