Monday, July 31, 2023

Conversation between Two Woods


گئے وقتوں میں اخروٹ کے درخت کی لکڑی سے منبر بنائے جاتے تھے کیوں کہ اس کی لکڑی مضبوط اور پائیدار ہوتی  اس پھل دار درخت کا سایہ بھی کافی گھنا ہوتا ہے ۔

‏دوسری طرف چنار کا درخت ہے جس سے دار (پھانسی گھاٹ) بنائے جاتے تھے۔ اس درخت پہ کوئی پھل نہیں لگتا ۔

‏ایران کے مشہور ترک نژاد شاعر شہریارؔ نے ان دو درختوں کی آپسی بحث کو کیا ہی خوب شعری صنف میں ڈھالا ہے:


‏گفت با طعنه منبری به چنار:

‏سرفرازی چی میکنی؟ بی بار


‏منبر نے طعنہ بھرے لہجے میں چنار کے درخت سے کہا:

‏ اے بے پھل کے درخت! کس زعم میں اپنی گردن اکڑائے کھڑے ہو؟


‏نه مگر ننگی ھر درختی تُو؟

‏کز شما ساختند چوبی دار؟


‏ تمھیں نہیں لگتا کہ درختوں کی برادری میں تم باعث ننگ و بد نامی ہو ؟

‏کہ تم سے صرف پھانسی گھاٹ ہی بنائے جاتے ہیں.


‏پس بر آشفت آن درختِ دلیر

‏رُو به منبر چنین نمود اخطار گفت


‏اس دلیر درخت کو بہت غصہ آیا، اس نے منبر کی جانب اپنا رخ موڑ کے کہا،


‏گر منبرِ تُو فائدہ داشت 

‏کارِ مردم نه می کشید به دار


‏اگر تمہارے منبر اتنے ہی فائدہ مند ہوتے تو لوگوں کو پھانسی سے جھولنے کی نوبت ہی نہ آتی. 


‏رابعہ خرم درانی کی تحریر

Saturday, July 29, 2023

Intelligence and Wisdom

I had never known these profound distinctions between Intelligence and Wisdom

Worth reading on ...

1. Intelligence leads to arguments. Wisdom leads to settlements.

2. Intelligence is the power of will. Wisdom is power OVER will.

3. Intelligence is heat; it burns. Wisdom is warmth; it comforts.

4. Intelligence is the pursuit of knowledge; it tires the seeker. Wisdom is the pursuit of truth; it inspires the seeker.

5. Intelligence is holding on. Wisdom is letting go.

6. Intelligence leads you. Wisdom guides you.

7. An intelligent man thinks he knows everything. A wise man knows that there is still something to learn.

8. An intelligent man always tries to prove his point. A wise man knows there really is no point.

9. An intelligent man freely gives unsolicited advice. A wise man keeps his counsel until all options are considered.

10. An intelligent man understands what is being said. A wise man understands what is left unsaid.

11. An intelligent man speaks when he has to say something. A wise man speaks when he has something to say.

12. An intelligent man sees everything as relative. A wise man sees everything as related.

13. An intelligent man tries to control the mass flow. A wise man navigates the mass flow.

14. An intelligent man preaches. A wise man teaches.

Sunday, July 23, 2023

The Blind Men and the Elephant

The parable of "The Blind Men and the Elephant" is from the Buddhist text Tittha Sutta and contains one of the earliest mentions of the story. The Tittha sutta is dated to around 500 BCE, during the lifetime of Lord Buddha. The story is about a group of blind men who have never come across an and imagine what the elephant is like by touching it. Each blind man feels a different part of the elephant's body and disagrees with their findings. Only if Our Blind Men knew that it's the collective wisdom that leads to the truth. Peace to all and especially our Blind Men.


 

Monday, July 17, 2023

Saeen

(I had the good fortune to work as a mentee in Dr. Azra Raza lab while in residency. I kept the letter of recommendation she wrote for me almost a quarter century ago.)


 

Saturday, July 15, 2023

Zarf aur Zameer

اپنے ضمیر اور ظرف کی مرمت کیجیے
 تاکہ دنیا کا ہر رشتہ آپ کو حسین نظر آۓ۔۔

Monday, July 10, 2023

On drinking chai from Saucer

Often we see some of our folks drinking tea out of the saucer. Some might think they have no manners! Some think they are trying to cool their tea or share the cup with a mate. 

But poet John Paul Moore has left us thinking with his lines in the poem Drinking from My Saucer:

“I’ve never made a fortune, and it’s probably too late now.
But I don’t worry about that much; I’m happy anyhow.
And as I go along life’s way, I’m reaping better than I sowed.

_I’m drinking from my saucer, 'cause my cup has overflowed.” 

Saturday, July 08, 2023

cemetry

One of my cardiothoracic surgeon friends retired early so he could travel. He said:

"The most expensive neighborhood in the world is the cemetery where tons of millionaires live."