Since 2007
Rising Above the Hate: Tortoise Enduring Wisdom African Folktale
The African Folktale Story of the Wise Tortoise and the Foolish Monkey
Many years ago, a wise tortoise lived in a peaceful forest in a distant land where magic and mystery were everywhere. He was happy and content with his life and always minded his business. He had a small hut near a pond, where he would spend his days reading books, meditating, and enjoying nature.One day, a foolish monkey came to the forest. He was loud and rude and liked to cause trouble for everyone. He would throw stones at the birds, steal fruits from the trees, and make fun of the other animals. He thought he was more intelligent and better than everyone else, and he looked down on them.
The monkey soon noticed the tortoise and his hut. So he decided to play a prank on him. He sneaked into the house when the tortoise was away and messed up everything inside. He tore the books, broke the pots, and spilled the water. Then he hid behind a bush and waited for the tortoise to return.
When the tortoise came back, he saw the mess in his hut. He was shocked and saddened by what had happened. He wondered who could have done such a thing. He looked around and saw the monkey laughing behind the bush. The monkey came out and said mockingly:
"Ha ha ha! Look at your hut! It's ruined! How do you like that, you slow and stupid tortoise? You think you are wise and peaceful but a boring old fool! You should learn to have some fun like me!"
The tortoise felt angry and hurt by the monkey's words and actions. He wanted to teach him a lesson. But he did not lose his calm. He remembered that other people's negativity was not his concern. He knew the monkey was unhappy and insecure and was projecting his problems onto others. So, he decided to ignore him and focus on himself.
He said to the monkey calmly:
"Thank you for your opinion, but I don't care what you think of me. You can do whatever you want but not affect my happiness. I am happy with who I am and what I have. So you are free to leave now."
The monkey was surprised by the tortoise's response. He expected him to get angry or sad, or scared. He wanted to provoke him and make him feel bad. But he saw that the tortoise was not bothered by him at all. So, he realized that his prank had failed.
He felt ashamed and frustrated by his own behavior. He saw that he was wasting his time and energy on being negative and mean. He saw he was not happy, intelligent, or better than anyone else. He saw that he had a lot to learn from the tortoise.
He said to the tortoise humbly:
"I'm sorry for what I did and what I said. You are right; I know nothing about you or your life. You are wise and peaceful, and I am foolish and rude. Can you please forgive me? Can you please teach me how to be like you?"
The tortoise smiled kindly at the monkey. He saw that he had changed his attitude and tone. He saw that he had learned his lesson and wanted to improve himself. So he decided to give him a chance.
He said to the monkey warmly:
"Of course, I forgive you. And, of course, I can teach you. But you have to be willing to listen and learn. You have to be respectful and humble. You have to be positive and kind."
The monkey nodded eagerly at the tortoise's words. He said sincerely:
"I am willing to do all that. I want to be a better person. I want to be happy like you."
The tortoise nodded back at the monkey's words. He said gently:
"Then come with me. Let me show you my way of life."
The tortoise invited the monkey into his hut. First, he cleaned up the mess that the monkey had made, and he shared some food with him. Then he taught him how to read books, meditate, and enjoy nature.
The monkey listened attentively to the tortoise's teachings and followed his example. As a result, he learned to be calm, wise, peaceful, happy, and content with himself.
He became friends with the tortoise and other animals in the forest. He became a new person.
The moral of the African folktale story of the wise tortoise and the foolish monkey.
The moral of this story is that other people's negativity is not your concern. You should not let them affect your happiness or peace of mind. Instead, you should focus on yourself and your own values. You should also be forgiving and compassionate towards negative and mean people because they are unhappy and insecure.
You should help them if you can, but not at the expense of your own well-being. You should also be open to learning from wise and peaceful people because they can teach you how to be happy and content with yourself.
Apply the moral of the African Folklore story of the Wise Tortoise and the Foolish Monkey in your life by following these steps:
Identify the sources of negativity in your life. These could be people, situations, or thoughts that make you feel bad or stressed.
Decide how to deal with them. You can either avoid them, confront them, or accept them. Avoiding them means staying away from them as much as possible. Facing them means speaking up for yourself and setting boundaries. Accepting them means acknowledging them but not letting them affect you.
Choose the option that works best for you and your situation. Sometimes you may need to avoid some people or problems; sometimes, you may need to confront them; and sometimes, you may need to accept them. There is no one correct answer for every case.
Focus on yourself and your own happiness. Do things that make you feel good and fulfilled. Pursue your goals and passions. Spend time with positive and supportive people. Practice gratitude and optimism. Take care of your physical and mental health.
Be forgiving and compassionate towards others. Understand that everyone has their own struggles and challenges. Don't judge or blister them. Try to help them if you can, but don't sacrifice your rebuke happiness for theirs. Respect their choices and opinions, even if they are different from yours.
Be open to learning from others. Seek out wise and peaceful people and learn from their experiences and advice. Listen to their stories and insights. Ask them questions and seek feedback. Emulate their habits and behaviors. Appreciate their wisdom and kindness.
By following these steps, you can lead a content and serene life, despite the negativity surrounding you. Moreover, you can assist others in achieving happiness and peace as well. In essence, you'll embody the wisdom of the tortoise from the fable.
You can find wise and peaceful people like the tortoise by following these tips:
Seek out individuals who possess a sense of peace through mindfulness and presence rather than focusing on past or future events. These individuals know their thoughts, feelings, sensations, and surroundings and are open-minded.
Connect with those who incorporate peace into their daily lives by avoiding aggression, hostility, conflicts, and arguments. Instead, they prioritize harmony and cooperation, seeking to comprehend and appreciate diverse viewpoints. They express their needs and feelings calmly and confidently.
You can find these people in various places, such as:
Your family, friends, or community.
Your church, temple, mosque, or other areas of worship.
Your school, work, or volunteer organizations.
Your hobbies, interests, or passions.
Your online groups, forums, or platforms.
You can also use online tools such as:
Meetup.com to find local groups that share your interests.
Eventbrite.com to find events that match your preferences.
Befrienders.org to find emotional support and counseling.
Peacefulpeople.org to find resources and inspiration for peace.
Once you find these people, you can learn from them by:
Asking them questions and seeking feedback.
Listening to their stories and insights.
Emulating their habits and behaviors.
Appreciating their wisdom and kindness.
Supporting their goals and challenges.
By seeking the teachings of wise and peaceful individuals, you can increase their intelligence and cultivate a sense of calmness. This newfound sense of peace can then be shared with others, ultimately contributing to the betterment of the world.
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| Don't be a foolish monkey! |
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