I received this as a forwarded email from a friend who called it very profound. I agree.
“An anthropologist studying the habits and customs of an African tribe found himself surrounded by children most days. So he decided to play a little game with them. He managed to get candy from the nearest town and put it all in a decorated basket, at the foot of a tree.
Then he called the children and suggested they play a game. When the anthropologist said “now”, the children had to run to the tree and the first one to get there could have all the candy to him/herself.
So the children all lined up waiting for the signal. When the anthropologist said “now”, all of the children took each other by the hand ran together towards the tree. They all arrived at the same time divided up the candy, sat down and began to happily munch away.
The anthropologist went over to them and asked why they had all run together when any one of them could have had the candy all to himself/herself.
The children responded: “Ubuntu. How could any one of us be happy if all the others were sad?”
Ubuntu is a philosophy of African tribes that can be summed up as “I am what I am because of who we all are.”
Bishop Desmond Tutu gave this explanation in 2008 :
“One of the sayings in our country is Ubuntu – the essence of being human. Ubuntu speaks particularly about the fact that you can’t exist as a human being in isolation. It speaks about our interconnectedness.
You can’t be human all by yourself, and when you have this quality –Ubuntu – you are known for your generosity. We think of ourselves far too frequently as just individuals, separated from one another, whereas you are connected and what you do affects the whole World. When you do well, it spreads out; it is for the whole of humanity.”
I am one of the blessed ones. I think that I belong to a tribe of family and friends. I cannot think of any one of those members of the tribe who are not deeply rooted in the value of ubuntu. In practical terms, the sheer volume of help that I have received from the tribe is mind boggling.
On the other hand, I know why my friend sent me this forward. His tribe, one glorified in all literature of all times for their sense of brotherhood, the armed forces, has let him down in a big way thanks to the machinations of a few rotten apples. When I came to know about that particular aberration, I opined that the rotten apples will pay a price for their misdeeds. I also told him that he was lucky that he is alive as the situation could have well resulted in his being bumped off by the rotten apples and his response was typical. “Yes, I am lucky that I am alive, but the rotten apples are flourishing and may indeed have to wait for their next incarnation to pay the price for this life’s misdeeds.” How true!
Ramana, whilst I agree wholeheartedly with, and believe in, the first part of your post I fail to see the logic of the conclusion. Reincarnation or not: It doesn’t matter. None of us will know who we were in a previous life. So what do we do with the lesson ‘learnt’? It’s such a pointless concept: What is it to me, now, in THIS my life, that maybe once upon a time I was slave labour, the Queen of Sheeba or a dog in Spain? Or that I may reincarnate as a snail soaked in garlic on a Frenchman’s plate?
And, let’s not forget that there are creatures in the cycle of life, the food chain, which thrive on rotten apples.
U
Ursula recently posted..Beyond help
Rummuser Reply:
May 21st, 2012 at 20:13
Funnily enough, we are both on the same side of the fence on this Ursula. My observation was entirely sarcastic, as was my friend’s response.
Three Kings Books Reply:
May 22nd, 2012 at 05:43
You’re both wrong, in my opinion. There are many opportunities to discover and know who we were in previous lives.
Three Kings Books recently posted..And the Beat Goes On
Rummuser Reply:
May 22nd, 2012 at 17:16
Yes, there are, but I certainly do not want to go down that route. I am scared to find out!
Ursula Reply:
May 22nd, 2012 at 17:31
And there I was thinking you were the offspring of Stephen King.
Dear Psychic of Three Kings Books fame, we are not ‘wrong: Our perception differs from yours. Fine difference.
Pray tell and satisfy my curiosity: Where are those “opportunities to discover and know who we were in previous lives”? You may also wish to answer my all consuming question: What difference does it make whether we know or not?
All ears, yours,
U
Ursula recently posted..My backyard
“I am what I am because of who we all are” is such an ispiring phrase that I surely won’t easly forget. Thnks for sharing all that.
Ubuntu. So sadly lacking in the out of control greed of today.
Lovely post, R.
XO
WWW
wisewebwoman recently posted..How Can I Help You?
Rummuser Reply:
May 22nd, 2012 at 16:50
Thank you WWW.
Very true.
And I particularly like the photo that goes with it.
Hope you’re well, Rummy. Sorry I’ve not been around much lately.
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Rummuser Reply:
May 22nd, 2012 at 16:51
I am well and flourishing if somewhat preoccupied with my care giving duties. Otherwise, life goes on. I miss your blog posts but am glad to see you back here commenting.
Indeed, we like to think of ourselves as autonomous individuals and frequently forget just how much our lives are dependent on the cooperation and support of others. Without that constant cooperation, we would soon be in a mess.
What a wonderful photo. What an ingenious idea!
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Rummuser Reply:
May 22nd, 2012 at 16:55
I was overcome by awe when I saw that photograph on another blog some time ago and went looking for it for this post as it is tailor-made for the topic. And, I agree that we take it for granted the many people who are invisibly and anonymously doing things that enable us to live the way we do.
There was I thinking that Ubantu was a computer operating system!
Grannymar recently posted..Food Monday ~ Sea Breeze
Rummuser Reply:
May 22nd, 2012 at 16:55
It is that too. I think that the name was borrowed for a network os.
Again, you are one fortunate fellow. In fact all of us bloggers are some of the most fortunate people who have ever walked the face of the earth. We’re not starving, we have roofs over our heads and we’re not living in the midst of war.
That said, there will always be rotten apples, and many of them will never pay the price for their misdeeds unless there is an afterlife. It seems to me the Christians with their view of heaven and hell have a more soul-satisfying story. They promise a reward for being good. As I understand it the ultimate goal of reincarnation is simply to be able to get away from the constant trips through this vale of tears.
Cheerful Monk recently posted..Light at the End of the Tunnel
Anil Reply:
May 22nd, 2012 at 07:05
The hoodlums who are getting to control us have switched off the light at the end of the tunnel !
Rummuser Reply:
May 22nd, 2012 at 17:16
Well said Anil.
Cheerful Monk Reply:
May 22nd, 2012 at 23:38
Anil,
Unfortunately that’s nothing new in the world. I’m just watching the TV series The Borgias. The Borgias were about 500 years ago, but there are plenty of other examples that go back a lot further. (:
Cheerful Monk recently posted..Light at the End of the Tunnel
Rummuser Reply:
May 22nd, 2012 at 16:57
Reincarnation per se without the support of the theory of karma will lead us to wrong conclusions. When one understands the theory of karma and karmaphala, reincarnation falls into place.
Cheerful Monk Reply:
May 22nd, 2012 at 23:34
Of course karma and reincarnation are connected. And from what I’ve read the idea is to finally escape from the suffering in this life. Buddha’s purpose was to teach people to eliminate suffering.
Cheerful Monk recently posted..Light at the End of the Tunnel
Ursula Reply:
May 22nd, 2012 at 17:24
Cheerful Monk, what makes you think that bloggers are not starving, have a roof over their heads and do not live in a war zone?
U
Ursula recently posted..My backyard
Cheerful Monk Reply:
May 22nd, 2012 at 23:16
I was thinking of the bloggers who come here. I agree people have blogged from war zones. I doubt that a truly starving person would have the energy though. Interesting point.
Cheerful Monk recently posted..Light at the End of the Tunnel
i think it’s lovely that all the children wanted each other to have the candy.
in america the “art of competition” is so high and so ingrained that they would have elbowed each other out of the way to “get the prize” for themselves. most sad.
oh rummy!
over the weekend i got to see ‘the exotic marigold hotel.’
a group of seven “wrinklies” who don’t know each other but go to stay at the marigold hotel in india.
oh my god. it is a feast for the senses!!!! i loved it. see it whenever you can. you won’t be disappointed! wonderful story. superb acting by judi dench and maggie smith and dev patel and all the others. almost as good as a sundae with vanilla ice cream and chocolate sauce!
love,
tammy j
Rummuser Reply:
May 22nd, 2012 at 17:08
Tammy, when you have the time, do spare some twenty minutes to watch this TED talk. I have read the book which talks about the problems introverts face in precisely the culture that you mention in your comment. I have every intention of seeing the movie and am just waiting for Ranjan to be free so that I can sneak off leaving him to keep an eye on my father for a few hours.
You need to figure out how to attach a “Twitter” button to your blog posts. I would’ve twittered this to the world.
Wonderful!
Three Kings Books recently posted..And the Beat Goes On
Rummuser Reply:
May 22nd, 2012 at 17:15
Let me see if I can do that. I do have a twitter account which has been inactive for years. I have not gone anywhere near it!
Thanks Ramana for this post. The photograph is captivating. Each time Neena & I go to villages to spread the word on Right To Information Act we always return wiser, having learnt a lot more than we were meant to teach. We only need to look at all the people the World believes are “backward” and others in the hinterland of India we label as “tribals”, to learn sense of values so essential in our daily lives.
Rummuser Reply:
May 22nd, 2012 at 17:17
And your other experiences among your neighbours about which you have shared with me too clearly would indicate that it is Urban life that seems to have gone astray.
Cheerful Monk Reply:
May 24th, 2012 at 02:28
So you think the depiction of the villagers in Pather Panchali didn’t represent rural life?
Cheerful Monk recently posted..Light at the End of the Tunnel
Very profound, I love it. Great post Remana, thank you.
Regards, Keith.
http://woodsrunnersdiary.blogspot.com.au/
Keith recently posted..Ned Kellys Secret. A New Book By Sophie Masson.
Rummuser Reply:
May 22nd, 2012 at 17:20
Keith, coming from you, that is a great compliment. Thank you.
What a wonderful story. I so sorry your friend’s tribe has betrayed him. I, like you, feel blessed to have a wonderful circle in my life.
Life Student recently posted..Impeccable
Doesn’t this story capture what we all want for our own tribe? Thanks for passing this on.
Talk to Me…I’m Your Mother recently posted..Life is a Beach
Rummuser Reply:
May 27th, 2012 at 18:25
I found a remarkable definition of spirituality recently. I am sure that you will find it good too.
“Spirituality is recognizing and celebrating that we are all inextricably connected to each other by a power greater than all of us, and that our connection to that power and to one another is grounded in love and compassion. Practicing spirituality brings a sense of perspective, meaning and purpose to our lives.” – Brene Brown.
Talk to Me...I'm Your Mother Reply:
May 27th, 2012 at 19:37
Thank you. You are right…I love it. This resonates.
Talk to Me…I’m Your Mother recently posted..Play Golf, Dear Child
Talk to Me...I'm Your Mother Reply:
May 27th, 2012 at 19:42
Have you seen this? http://www.ted.com/talks/brene_brown_on_vulnerability.html
Talk to Me…I’m Your Mother recently posted..Play Golf, Dear Child
Rummuser Reply:
May 28th, 2012 at 17:57
Yes. I listened to her, bought her book and have been distributing it to many troubled young persons here.