Ancient Wisdom

Prince Ling was fond of seeing his women in 'mannish' garb. Before long all the women in the kingdom had taken to wearing men's clothes. The Prince then issued an ordinance against the fad in the following words: 'Any woman who is found wearing men's clothes shall have her robe torn and her belt ripped." Soon the streets were filled with women with torn robes and broken belts, but the mannish fashion persisted. When 'Yentze' was in audience, the Prince asked, "I have issued an order prohibiting women from wearing men's clothes. All those who offended have had their clothes torn, and yet the fashion persists. How do you account for that?" 'Yentze' answered, "Your Highness has caused your women to wear it within the palace at the same time that you banned it without; it is as if you had hung a cow's head at your door and sold horse meat inside. "Why don't you ask that this habit be ended in your own house? Then ther...

  A cat fell in love with a handsome young man and entreated Venus to change her into the form of a woman. Venus consented to her request and transformed her into a beautiful damsel. The youth saw her, loved her, and took her home as his bride. While they were reclining in their chamber, Venus, wishing to discover if the cat, in her change of shape, had also altered her habits of life, let down a mouse in the middle of the room. She, quite forgetting her present condition, started up from the couch and pursued the mouse, wishing to eat it. Venus, much disappointed, again caused her to return to her former shape. Nature exceeds Nurture.  

Once There was a man of ' Ch'i ' who desired gold. One morning he rose and dressed and went to market. He went straight to a shop that sold gold, grabbed some of the gold, and ran. The police arrested him and questioned him, saying, "How could you rob somebody else's gold in broad daylight and in front of all these people, too?" The man of ' Ch'i ' answered, "When I reached for the gold I only say gold, I didn't see any people."

Once upon a time, in the ancient land of Yang, two brothers—Yang Chu and Yang Pu—lived side by side. Their lives were intertwined, yet their perspectives diverged like the branches of a gnarled tree. One fateful day, Yang Pu stepped out into the world, clad in a light-coloured coat. The sun smiled upon him, and all seemed well. But as fate would have it, the heavens opened, and raindrops danced upon his shoulders. Yang Pu, practical and adaptable, shed his light coat and donned a dark one—a seamless transition from sun to storm. Returning home, he expected a warm welcome from his loyal companion—the family dog. But to his surprise, the dog met him with fierce barks, eyes filled with suspicion. Yang Pu’s anger flared. How could his faithful friend turn on him? Enter Yang Chu, the elder brother, wise and observant. He stepped in, calming the chaos. “Hold your hand,” he said to Yang Pu. “Would you strike this loyal creature?” Yang Pu hesitated, his anger waning. “But why?” he asked. Yang ...

Once upon a time, in the vast expanse of the natural world, an unlikely feud brewed between two creatures: the majestic Eagle and the unassuming Beetle. Their enmity ran deep, fueled by territorial disputes and a thirst for vengeance. The Eagle, with its regal wingspan and piercing gaze, ruled the skies. It had little patience for the tiny Beetle, whose humble existence seemed inconsequential. But the Beetle harboured a secret grudge, nursing wounds inflicted by the Eagle’s cruel actions. One fateful day, the Eagle descended upon the Beetle’s nest, seizing its young ones and devouring them without remorse. The Beetle, fueled by grief and rage, plotted its retaliation. Under the cover of darkness, it infiltrated the Eagle’s lofty nest, rolling out the precious eggs one by one. The Beetle’s audacity knew no bounds. It followed the Eagle to the highest peak, where the gods themselves resided. There, in the presence of mighty Jupiter, the Beetle confronted its adversary. The Eagle, indigna...

For speech is not mere blowing of breath. It is intended to say something, only what it is intended to say cannot yet be determined. Is there speech indeed, or is there not? Can we, or can we not, distinguish it from the chirping of young birds?... Neverthless, life arises from death, and vice versa. Possibility arises from impossibility, and vice versa. Affirmation is based upon denial, and vice versa. Which being the case, the true Sage rejects all distinctions and takes his refuge in Heaven (Nature). For one may base it on this, yet this is also that and that is also this. This also has its 'right' and 'wrong', and that also has its 'right' and 'wrong.' Does then the distinction between this and that really exist or not? When this (subjective) and that (objective) are both without their correlates, that is the very 'Axis of Tao.' And when that Axis passes through the centre at which all infinites converge, affirmations and denials alike blend ...

 ' Tsech'  of ' Nankuo' sat leaning on a low table. Gazing up to heaven, he sighed and looked as though he had lost his mind. ' Yench'eng Tseyu ', who was standing by him exclaimed, "What are you thinking about that your mind should become like dead wood, your mind like burnt-out cinders? Surely the man now leaning on the table is not he who was here just now." "My friend," replied Tsech , "your question is opposite. Today I have lost my Self... Do you understand? ... Perhaps you only know the music of man, and not that of Earth. Or even if you have heard the music of Earth, perhaps you have not heard the music of Heaven." "Pray explain," said Tseyu . "The breath of the universe," continued Tsech's , "is called wind. At times, it is inactive. But when active, all crevices resound to its blast. Have you never listened to its deafening roar? Have you never witnessed how the trees and objects shake an...

Once upon a time, in the rolling hills of Mount Olympus, the She-goats gathered under the watchful gaze of Jupiter. They had a peculiar request: they wanted beards. Yes, beards—the very symbol of masculinity that adorned the chins of their He-goat counterparts. Jupiter, amused by their audacity, granted their wish. Suddenly, the She-goats strutted about with newfound pride, their chins adorned with soft tufts of hair. They revealed in their bearded glory, believing it elevated their status. But the He-goats were not pleased. They grumbled and bleated, their hooves stamping the earth. “This is an outrage!” they cried. “How can the females dare to equal us in dignity?” Jupiter, ever wise, listened to their complaints. He raised an eyebrow and spoke, his voice echoing through the hills. “Fear not,” he said. “Let them enjoy their empty honour—the illusion of equality. For true strength lies not in appearances but in deeds.” And so, the She-goats continued to wear their beards, strutting an...

   تعلیم صرف ایک لفظ نہیں بلکہ ایک قوم کا مکمل نمونہ ہے جو اس بات کا تعین کرتا ہے کہ یہ قوم کیسی ہو گی۔اس لیے ایک ملک کے دانا اور عقلمند لوگ اس کی بنیاد کا تعین کرتے ہیں۔ حتیٰ کہ وہ قبائل جن کے سکول نہیں ہوتےتھے وہ بھی اپنے نوجوان نسل کے  طور طریقوں کے بارے میں فکر مند ہوتے ہیں۔ ہر قبیلہ اور قوم اپنی نوجوان نسل کو اپنے اغراض و مقاصد کے لیے تیار کرتی تھی۔ کچھ قبائل اپنی نوجوان نسل کو تجارت کی طرف راغب کرتے اور دوسری اقوام ان کو جنگجو بنانے کے لیے ۔ کچھ اپنی نوجوان نسل کو بادشاہوں کے درباروں میں نقل نویسی اور کتابت کے لیے اور کچھ قبائل اپنی نوجوان نسل کو مذہبی امور کی طرف راغب کرتے وغیرہ۔  تاریخ میں بے روزگار نوجوان نسل کا مسئلہ اس وقت پیدا ہوا جب ایک طرف نو آباد کاروں کو اپنی ضروریات پوری کرنے کے لیے مقامی نوجوان نسل درکار تھی۔ بڑی بڑی فیکٹریوں اور ملوں میں کلرک یا منشی نما لوگوں کی ضرورت تھی۔ ظاہر ہےاس کے لیے  ان کو قدیم قبائل کی سوچ پر مبنی نسل نہیں چاہیے تھی بلکہ دوغلی نسل درکار تھی۔ ایسی نسل جو ظاہری طور پر مقامی ہو مگر داخلی طور پر ان کی وفادار ہو ۔ آپ کہہ...

 ' Hueitse ' said to ' Chuangtse , "I have a large tree, called the ailanthus. Its trunk is so irregular and knotty that it cannot be measured out for planks; while its branches are so twisted that they cannot be cut out into discs or squares. It stands by the roadside, but no carpenter will look at it. Your words are like that tree-big and useless, of no concern to the world." "Have you never seen a wild cat," rejoined Chuangtse , "crouching down in wait for its prey? Right and left and high and low, it springs about, until it gets caught in a trap or dies in a snare. On the other hand, there is the yak with its great huge body. It is big enough in all conscience, but it cannot catch mice. Now if you have a big tree and are at a loss what to do with it, why not plant it in the Village of Nowhere, in the great wilds, where you might loiter idly by its side, and lie down in blissful repose beneath its shade? There it would be safe from the axe and fr...

  ' Hueitse ' said to ' Chuangtse ', "The prince of 'Wei' gave me a seed of a large-sized kind of gourd. I planted it, and it bore a fruit as big as a five-bushel measure. Now had I used this for holding liquids, it would have been too heavy to lift; and had I cut it in half for ladles, the ladles would have been too flat for such purpose. Certainly it was a huge thing, but I had not use for it and so broke it up." "It was rather you did not know how to use large things," replied Chuangtse . "There was a man of ' Sung ' who had a recipe for salve for chapped hands, his family having been silk-washers for generations. A stranger who had heart of it came and offered him a hundred ounces of silver for this recipe; whereupon he called together his clansmen and said, "We have never made much money by silk-washing. Now, we can sell the recipe for a hundred ounces in a single day. Let he stranger have it." "The stranger g...

Chien Wu said to ' Lien Shu , "I heard ' Chieh Yu ' talk on high and fine subjects endlessly. I was greatly startled at what he said, for his words seemed interminable as the 'Milky Way', but they are quite detached from out common human experience." 'What was it?" asked ' Lien Shu.' 'He declared," replied ' Chien Wu , "that on the 'Mia-ku-yi' mountain there lives a divine one, whose skin is white like ice or snow, whose grace and elegance are like those of a virgin, who eats no grain, but lives on air and dew, and who, riding on clouds with flying dragons for his team, roads beyond the limits of the mortal regions. When his spirit gravitates, he can ward off corruption from all things, and bring good crops. That is why I call it nonsense, and do not believe it." "Well," answered ' Lien Shu , "you don't ask a blind man's opinion of beautiful designs, nor do you invite a deaf man to...

  (Let there be) a small country with a small population, Where the supply of goods are tenfold or hundredfold, more than they can use, Let the people value their lives and not migrate far.     Though there be boats and carriages,          None be there to ride them.      Though there be armour and weapons,          No occasion to display them. Let the people again tie ropes for reckoning,          Let them enjoy their food,          Beautify their clothing,          Be satisfied with their homes,          Delight in their customs, The neighbouring settlement overlook one another So that they can hear the barking of dogs and crowing of cocks of their neighbours, And the people till the end of their days shall never have been outside their country. -A Book Of Tao by Lao Tzu

  True words are not fine-sounding;     Fine-sounding words are not true. A good man does not argue;     He who argues is not a good man. The wise one does not know many things;     He who knows many things is not wise. The Sage does not accumulate (for himself):     He lives for other people,     And grows richer himself;     He gives to other people,     And has greater abundance. The Tao of Heaven     Blesses, but does not harm. The Way of the Sage     Accomplishes, but does not contend.      -The Look Of Tao by Lao Tzu

  اگر ہم معیشت دانوں کے پیچیدہ فارمولوں پر فی الفور توجہ نہ دیں مگر سیدھے اصول پر نظر رکھیں تو یہ بات واضح ہو جاتی   ہے کہ قیمتوں کا تعین مندرجہ ذیل فارمولے کے ذریعے کیا جاتا ہے:   قیمت فروخت =براہ راست اخراجات +بلواسطہ اخراجات +منافع آپ یوں کہہ سکتے ہیں کہ پاکستان میں سبزیوں اور پھلوں کی قیمت اس بنیادی فارمولے کے بغیر ہی بیچی جاتی ہے۔ اس میں منافع کا عنصرحد سے زیادہ ہے جو کہ براہ راست اور بلواسطہ اخراجات کی نسبت دوگنا یا سہ گنا ہے اور اس میں غیر ضروری قسم کے عناصر ناجائز فائدہ اٹھا رہے ہیں۔  پاکستان میں زیادہ تر سبزیاں دیہاتوں اور گائوں میں کسان اُگاتے ہیں مگر ان کو بیچنے کے لیے قصبوں اور شہروں کا رخ کرنا پڑتا ہے جہاں پر دلال یا آڑھتیے ان کی سبزیاں کوڑیوں کے بھائو ہتھیا لیتے ہیں۔ اس کے بعد یہ قیمتوں پر کنٹرول کرتے ہیں۔ ان کے پاس آلو، پیاز، ٹماٹر وغیرہ کی قیمتوں کو کنٹرول کرنے کے بہت سے طریقے ہوتے ہیں جن میں ایک کولڈ سٹوریج میں ذخیرہ کرنا اور پھر قلت پیدا کر کے ان کو بیچنا ۔ اس لیے آپ نے دیکھا ہو گا کہ رمضان کے مہینوں میں آلو کی قیمت یکدم بڑھ جاتی ہے۔ قربان...

Nasrudin walked into the city of ' Konia ' for the first time. He was at once struck by the number of patisseries. His appetite sharpened, he went into one of these shops and started to devour a pie. Certain that he would get nothing out of this ragged apparition, the owner rushed at him and cuffed him. 'What kind of a town is this?' asked the 'Mulla'; ' a place where they hit a man as soon as he started eating.

Once upon a time, there lived a Camel. One day, as he gazed upon the magnificent Bull adorned with impressive horns, envy gnawed at his heart. He longed for the same honour and grace. Determined to transform himself, the Camel sought an audience with Jupiter, the mighty god. “Grant me horns,” he implored, “so that I may be as majestic as the Bull.” Jupiter frowned, vexed by Camel's audacity. Not content with his existing size and strength, the Camel desire knew no bounds. In response, Jupiter not only denied him horns but also took away a portion of his ears. And so, the once envious Camel learned a valuable lesson: True honour lies not in imitation, but in embracing one’s own unique qualities. 🌟

  جنگ کے بارے میں ملکوں کے رحجانات تیزی کے ساتھ تبدیل ہورہے ہیں جس کی تشکیل تیکنیکی ترقی، جغرافیائی سیاسی تبدیلیوں اور بدلتی ہوئی حکمت عملیوں سے طے پاتی ہے۔ اگر ہم مستقبل میں جھانکنے کی کوشش کریں تو ہمیں کئی نئے رحجانات ابھرتے ہوئے نظر آتے ہیں جن میں ایک رحجان نئے تنازع کی نوعیت کا تعین کرتا ہے۔ ہم ان میں سے کچھ اہم پہلووں پر روشنی ڈالتے ہیں سپر طاقتوں کے درمیان رسہ کشی اور روایتی چیلنجز سب سے پہلا بدلتا ہوا رحجان یہ ہے کہ امریکی قومی دفاعی حکمت عملی نے انسداد دہشت گردی کی کاروائیوں سے اپنی توجہ  کا رخ موڑ کر روس اور چین کی طرف کر لیا ہے۔ ان اُبھرتی ہوئی طاقتوں نے روایتی فوجی صلاحیتوں میں نمایاں پیش رفت کی ہے جس میں مصنوعی ذہانت کے آلات، ہائپر سونک میزائل، ڈرونز اور اعلیٰ درجے کے روایتی تنازعات میں فتح یاب ہونے کی تیاری کو اہم خیال کیا گیا ہے لیکن یہ پوری تصویر نہیں ہے۔ ہایبرڈ وار فئیر اور گرے زون کا نقطہ نظر بدلتے ہوئے رحجانات میں یہ بات بھی شامل ہے کہ اب ضروری نہیں ہے کہ مستقبل کی جنگیں ماضی کی طرح بڑے پیمارنے پر تنازعات کی طرح ہوں۔ روس اور چین نے پہلے ہی ایسی ہائبرڈ جنگوں...

Once, in the vast desert, an Arab and his wife lived in extreme poverty. Their meager existence became a reproach to their neighbors. The wife, weary of their destitution, began to berate her husband, urging him to improve their condition. She longed for more, resenting their humble life. The Arab, however, held a different perspective. He reminded his wife of the Prophet’s words: “Poverty is my glory.” He explained how their lack of material wealth was a better preparation for the inevitable journey into the afterlife than riches ever could be. Frustrated, he even threatened divorce if she persisted in her discontent. But wives have their ways. Through gentle persuasion and flattery, she softened her husband’s resolve. He promised to heed her wishes. She instructed him to travel to Baghdad and present their case to the Khalifa. Their humble offering would be a simple pot of water—the only gift they could afford. And so, the Arab embarked on his journey. He reached Baghdad and humbly l...

' Nasrudin's donkey was stolen. He immediately went to the police. ' Mulla ' said the Chief of Police, 'this is serious. We will spare no effort to get your donkey back. After all, you are rather famous. Now begin at the beginning and tell me how it happened.' 'As I was not there when it happened, I can hardly tell you, can I?' said Nasrudin . 'Besides, it is not my business to know.'

Long ago, when the moon was full and the stars whispered secrets,  Tortoise  stumbled upon a hidden glade. There, perched on a gnarled branch, was the  Wise Sage Owl . His eyes held galaxies within, and his feathers shimmered like moonlight. “ Tortoise ,” the owl intoned, “your actions echo through eternity. Goodness begets goodness, and darkness begets darkness.” Tortoise  bowed. “But how can I ensure my deeds lead to goodness?” The owl blinked slowly. “Balance your scales. For every kindness, plant a seed. For every harm, seek redemption.” And so,  Tortoise  set forth. He helped the ants carry crumbs, tended wounded birds, and shared wisdom with the young saplings. His shell grew lighter, and his heart swelled with purpose. Meanwhile,  Monkey  swung through the forest, heedless of the owl’s wisdom. He stole honey from the bees, teased the squirrels, and mocked the wise old owl himself. One fateful day,  Monkey  crossed paths with a...

In a dense jungle, where sunlight barely pierced the thick canopy, there lived a tribe of apes. These apes were unlike any others—they possessed a peculiar ability. Whatever they observed humans doing, they imitated with astonishing accuracy. The apes watched the villagers nearby as they tilled the soil, planted seeds, and tended to their crops. Soon, the apes were digging furrows, sowing seeds, and mimicking the farmers’ every move. The villagers were amused by their antics but also a little unnerved. One day, a traveling musician arrived in the village. He played a haunting melody on his flute, and the apes gathered around, entranced. Their furry fingers twitched, and soon they were fashioning crude flutes from bamboo stalks. The jungle echoed with their off-key tunes. The apes continued their imitations. When a blacksmith hammered red-hot iron into horseshoes, the apes found rocks and tried to forge their own. Sparks flew, and their attempts were comical, but they persisted. The vil...