How Different cultures interpret different stories?

The purpose of this short essay is to educate our readers about the value and importance of stories so that they can take it seriously and interpret it in their own context as a learning tool. 

 Idress Shah has written in his book, "Special illumination, The Sufi Use of Humour" a story, perhaps apocryphal, said to be told in Japan. 

An American tourist is being shown around a shrine; he and his guide come to a light burning on a kind of altar. "That flame" quavers the aged Oriental custodian, "has been burning for a thousand years..." The American leans over and blows it out. "Well, it's stopped now, hasn't it?"

Idress Shah said that I have shared this tale in different countries. When the tourist is British, the application is that he scorns the whole thing; when it is a Frenchmman, that he feels himself superior; when it is American, that he is insensitive. 

He said that last time I mentioned this fact is rather august company. I was taken to task for having so little sense of humour myself that I either wanted to spoil others's enjoyment of a joke by analysing, or trying to wring meanings out of it where none was legitimately to be obtained. 

Jokes are like oranges: they have both experiential and nutritional content. It is fact that a fruit tastes delicious does not mean that it cannot have food value. If I smell an apple and enjoy this, it does not mean that its nutritional value will be ruined if I should eat it. This argument has been combated by the suggestion, "Ah, but if you smell a rose you enjoy it, but if you try to eat a rose-bush you will be disappointed. 

So reading stories are like that. Different cultures and different people perceive its value differently as we have shown in story of flame.