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One day, a calf needed to cross a virgin forest in order to return to its pasture. Being an irrational animal, it forged out a tortuous path full of bends, up and down hills.
The next day, a dog came by and used the same path to cross the forest. Next it was a sheep’s turn, the head of a flock which, upon finding the opening, led its companions through it.
Later, men began using the path: they bent down, deviating obstacles, complaining and cursing – and quite rightly so. But they did nothing to create a different route.
After so much use, in the end, the path became a trail along which poor animals toiled under heavy loads, being forced to go three hours to cover a distance which would normally take thirty minutes.
Many years passed and the trail became the main road of a village, and later the main avenue of a town. Everyone complained about the traffic, because the route it took was the worst possible one.
Meanwhile, the old and wise forest laughed, at seeing how men tend to blindly follow the way already open, without ever asking whether it really is the best choice.
.(based in traditional Malayalam story)
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A simple story…yet touches our souls!
Thank you for sharing all these beautiful short stories cos it does make a difference :)
You are a great author!!!
We tend to complicate life, by not doing anything to better it. It is easier to just stay and do nothing, blame everyone and life as well, but the only guilty for it’s own tragedy is oneself. How come, many poor and miserable people have become such important people? Because they saw no obstacles and even though they were scared, they took the risk. I invite everyone in this blog to actually take a risk and do everyday something you’re scared of doing, or something you are too lazy to do… the satisfaction afterwards will totally vanish the fear or laziness you had.
If you know the shortcut, please pass it on…
it is easy to talk but its hard to take action….
La verdad es que siempre me dejas sin palabras. Te admiro por tu fe, y tu lucha interior. Yo estoy en mi busqueda, descubriendo cada dia mas acerca de mi misma.
Gracias por darnos tanto amor y por compartir todo tu conocimiento.
Gracias de todo corazon.
Por cierto Acabo de crear un grupo en Facebook que se llama “Gift of the Soul” alli escribo y comparto mis pensamientos. Me encantaria tener tu feedback acerca de mi grupo.
Gracias a Dios y a ti!
Planning and goals are critical…know who you are and what you want.
Someone eventually finds a shortcut and cashes in on it.
most of the humans r like it.but there is some exceptions,that’s why v r having this much developments.
Some people are nothing more than a Calf followers.
So sadly true…
Dear Paulo,
I am a Malayali. I have read and heard many great little stories. I have even seen your titles published in Malayalam. This is a brilliant one. But I never heard it before. I asked my dad, mom, grand parents and all Malayalis in my contact list. None of them heard this before and almost everyone told me that this is one of the best and it is a shame that such a great short story was spread not even as a bed time story to the kids in our community for a very long time… We all wounder, where did you get this from?
u must have heard the Malayalam say” munpe gamikunna govuthante pinpe gamikkum bahugokkalellam” hemust have elaborated that…
The way you travel makes the difference…path might be the same but your journey can be different from others.
If someone keep using the same road and fear the unknown in trying a new one …..would prevent any progress of self grow.
I agree with Shadi!
Sometimes, uncertain situations lead to makeing decision based on the others’s way & just following their footprint!
However, I beleive in the main point of your really examplary story… Open your eyes to the facts & choice you think is the best logically!
I have been an ardent follower of yours – Well, I do agree that some people tend to follow this route but not everyone. Today if we think on these terms then the human race would have perished – The reason why things have moved forward, because every generation has thought differently and pushed themselves to do better. The only reason why we see pressure around is because of the hunger, the human has for everything, be it power, success or greed. The message is brilliant and its important that every human pushes himself/ herself to be brilliant in what he/ she does – Learn, impart and find your way to do something better – Be selfish but in a selfless manner.
Hello, Isn’t the message always – go with the path that is there for you? Why struggle in trying to find a new one? If this is a metaphore for the paths we take in life – we can’t go back on a journey that we have already taken… I guess if it was a road constantly used by you – the story would have its point made, but there are two ways of looking at it x
This shows how many people just follow others because they don’t care to know any better. This leads them to mediocrity. Everyone complains but at the end no one makes an effort to change the way things have been already done.
Human beings always want to go on easy ways, the paths made by the pioneers are easy to walk. No body thinks weather it is a right way to follow or should I make some corrections, and if some body tries he is not respected,others they laugh on him. This is the reason that all the religions are followed blindly by masses, no body tries to bring reforms in their thinking,they are afraid to question the principles laid thousands of years before.They will follow that tough way which was set up by the pioneers whom they have designated as Prophets.I like the teaching of Buddha who said don’t follow me blindly, don’t follow your teacher or your parents blindly.Always think weather they are right or wrong.Krishna Murti also said similar thing,” don’t make any man as your Guru, because you will stop thinking and become only a follower”.This small story really gives a wonderful message. Thank you Paulo.
As the saying goes “the dead fishes go with the flow”!
everything changed ..whether we like it or not…we have to follow or choose or apply it on our daily lives..sometimes..we have to be practical.
I can’t help but apply this to all of the nonsense that is going on with immigration issues here in the US and how president after president just let the “blind” racist haters guide them. Instead of making a new path for new generations. Unfortunately this world is not yet developed spiritually and we stll believe in country boundaries which were NEVER created or intended by GOD.
yesturday i was thinking about the path, and i was complaining and plamming god for it
then i thought its not gods its the path !
so thank you.
It’s a story about common people…
very true!!!
The way which is taken was not meant for everyone. we all travel according to our destiny and path always been started from the first step towards the goal… the step which commences our journey has to be taken in right direction. the correctness of path is depend on the vision of oneself. one must choose the path carefully while keeping the watch over the step. During walking one should also ensure that the target is not walking but reaching on destiny. Sometimes to avoid the challanges of journey, we start walking on known way or we start asking people who are coming in our directions about the way without realising that they are travelling differently and no two persons can travel simultaneously on single path. one has one’s own journey. life is easy and journey can be smooth if we ready to walk on the destined path rather to follow other’s dream/path.
life is easy for true warrior as he knows that he has to cut many trees to make a smooth way to reach to oneself. He knows whatever he has started will be traeted as wastage but he knows when he will reach at other side of the forest people will welcome him with head over heels. the life initially plays with all of us, taking everywhere except at the right path. There will be many illusions and greeds preventing us to find the right way. they will suggest us many ways and right way is always been stated as difficult and next to impossible way on that one can walk. we will be shown comforts in walking on such ways created by others. They will fear us and tell us the fake stories about those who dare to walk. they will compel us to be with them otherwise we will be left alone and broken. ONE MUST UNDERSTAND THAT IT IS HIS IDEA OF FINDING GOOD NOT FOR ONESELF FOR THOSE AS WELL WHO ARE WAITING IT TO HAPPEN. The miracles occur only when you believe them.
como siempre el hombre tomando posesion de todo y facilitandose las cosas aunque despues salga peor el asunto
Si sigues haciendo lo mismo, no esperes resultados diferentes.
Nuestras vías cerebrales son nuestros caminos.
Cuando estemos frente a muchos caminos y tengamos que escoger alguno que ya sabemos adonde nos lleva, escojamos uno nuevo o hagamos uno nuevo. Total, nosotros seremos los que caminen y, como dijo el poeta, “Caminante no hay camino, se hace camino al andar”.
You impart wisdom and insight in an unique and masterful way, in a way that is entertaining, thought provoking, inspiring and education, and in a way that leaves a lasting impression … you are a master and a genius and I adore you!
fear and uncertainty will cause one to follow his ancestotrs path. then comes ignorance and bad facts.
I’ve been like the story, though I know that at times, there are better ways to do it, I keep on doing it the old ways… perhaps because I find solace in it…
i was forced to take up science stream after my high school, so that i can become an engineer like my brother (the only dream of Indian parents is to make their child an engineer or a doctor). At first, i unwillingly, took up the path which is taken by thousands and thousands of Indian students every year. But after a year, i realized that this is not what i wanted to do. This isn’t my path. I blindly walked on a path without thinking whether i would be able to reach my destination with the path i had taken. That’s when i retreated and chose the path i wanted to walk, the path i knew would definitely lead me to my destination. And I’m super happy with my decision.
Thank you Paulo. Your stories inspire me a lot and teaches me something new everyday.
People just fail to believe that there could be other possibilities or ways in which things can be done.
I just realize that life is all about our way of looking it or judging it. I don’t say who is superior in man and animal. But the difference I have found is that men/human being want everything in easy way whereas animals love to make their own ways. If we as a human being try to look or observe the life in different way and not in the same usual/followed way, we’ll be nearer to the God.
dont blindly follow any path…and the first person ie the pioneer always faces the greatest difficulty…but if everyone just keeps on following the pioneer,, then there is no progress…follow the first path n tehn analyse it n make ammends…
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