THE DEAF FROG
















My friend, Dr. Deepak, used to always tell this story to our young ones… especially on the Certification day, as his parting message. Today, I remembered him, and his story, with a lot of freshness.



Once, in a town, all the frogs decided to hold a competition among them. The challenge: to see who would be able to climb the tallest tower in the town!


When the day of the competition arrived, the people from the town came to the spot to witness the great spectacle. When they saw the tiny creatures – the feeble-looking frogs – near the town’s gigantic tower, all set to climb, they all became cynical and cried, “Silly fools! They can’t!”  


And, gun-shot went up in the air. The race began… As the frogs tried desperately to climb, and fast, the spectators began to scream hysterically, “You fool, you can’t,”… “Give up, you silly creatures… Go home!”


When the little frogs heard the cry of the mob around, they got discouraged and disheartened… and, one by one, they gave up. But, one frog didn’t. He kept climbing, and kept persisting… till he made it to the dizzy top of the high tower!


“Bravo! Bravo! Bravo!”… It was the same cynical crowd, now, cheering the brave one. 


After the presentation ceremony, one of the many quitter-frogs asked the winner, “Friend, how did you do it? How come you didn’t get discouraged by the frenzied mob?”


The quitter-frog was in for a shock! The ‘hero’ – the brave winner – was deaf! Completely deaf!




Dr. Deepak would charge our young ones, at the end of his story: “My dear young friends, if you want to win, climb the tallest tower in your town, be deaf like this frog. Completely deaf to the cynical and negative voices around you!”


I find this story so relevant and fitting it perfectly well in different contexts. One of the contexts is: to be able to separate the poison from the so-called negative words of others. Be able to take what is only wanted… and leave the rest. Never to let the poison seep into our hearts… Never to internalize what is being said…Yes, as the Buddha said, “If I don’t accept your abuse, the poison of your abuse will belong to you, and not me!”


I find the frog-story very, very relevant in life… 

 
We learn it the hard way.



GERALD D’CUNHA

Pic.: Shaila D'Souza





Comments

LALIT PANT said…
True sir. Best to be deaf, sometimes. Inspired reading ur post. Thanks. Lalit
July 7, 2012 at 3:35 PM
Gerald D'Cunha said…
Thank you Lalit. Love. GERRY
July 7, 2012 at 3:42 PM
Ujwala Reddy said…
Liked the story. very relevant in life.

= Ujwala
July 7, 2012 at 3:44 PM
Gerald D'Cunha said…
Thanks a lot Ujwala. Love. GERRY
July 7, 2012 at 3:47 PM
Anonymous said…
Thanks Gery. Motivating piece.

Kajol
July 7, 2012 at 4:08 PM
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