Carrot not stick

Carrot not stick

September 2014

A man had purchased a cow, and was attempting to take it home. He was not accustomed to dealing with cows, so he was trying to drag the cow along holding its horns. The cow was very resistant – she obviously wanted to go to her old home, her old owner.

A Sufi mystic was watching. He said to the man, “It seems you don’t know how to deal with cows. This is not the right way.”

The man said, “What should I do, because I am not that strong. The cow is stronger; she is dragging me with her.”

The mystic gave him some beautiful green grass, and told him, “Let go of her horns. Take this grass and move ahead of her. Keep the grass very close, but don’t allow her to eat it. As she moves towards the grass, keep moving towards your home.” And it worked.

The cow came because the grass was so close and so green and so fresh. She forgot all about the owner; the immediate problem was how to get this grass. As the man went on moving slowly, the distance between the cow and the grass remained the same. And she entered into the house of the new owner, and he closed the door.