Nasreddin Hodja Life

Nasreddin (Turkish "Nasreddin Hoca", Persia ملا نصرالدین, Arabic: حجا transl.: Ḥujā, نصرالدين meaning "Victory of the Faith", transl.: Malai Mash-Hoor, Albania "Nastradin Hoxha" or just "Nastradini" Azeri " Mullah Nəsrəddin "Bosnian" Nasrudin hodža ", Uzbek" Nasriddin Afandi "or just" Afandi ", Kazakh: Қожанасыр" Khozhanasir "Uyghur" Näsirdin Äfänti ") is a legendary satirical sufi figure who lived during the Middle Ages (around 13th century) , in Aksehir, and later in Konya, under the Seljuq rule. Many nations of the Near, Middle East and Central Asia claim the Nasreddin as their own (ie, Afghans, Iranians, Turks, and Uzbeks). His name is spelled in various cultures and is often preceded or Differently Followed by titles "Hodja", "Mullah", or "effendi" (see section "Name variants"). Nasreddin was a populist Philosopher and wise man, remembered for his funny stories and Anecdotes.


Much of Nasreddin's actions can be Described as illogical yet logical, rational yet irrational, bizarre yet normal, foolish yet sharp, and simple yet profound. What adds even further to his uniqueness is the way he gets across his messages in unconventional yet very effective methods in a profound simplicity.
1996-1997 was declared International Nasreddin Year by UNESCO.


Nasreddin's origin & legacy
Nasreddin lived in Anatolia, he was born in Village in the Sivrihisar Hose, Eskisehir in the 13th century, then settled in Aksehir, and later in Konya, where he died (probably born in 1209 CE and died 1275 / 6 or 1285 / 6 CE) . [8] [9]
As generations went by, new stories were added, others were modified, and the character and his tales spread to other regions. The themes in the tales have become part of the folklore of a number of nations and express the national Imaginations of a variety of cultures. Although most of them depict Nasreddin in an early small-village setting, the tales (like Aesop's fables) deal with concepts that have a certain timelessness. They purvey a pithy folk wisdom that triumphs over all trials and tribulations. Manuscript of the oldest Nasreddin was found in 1571.


Nasreddin's tales

The Nasreddin stories are known throughout the Middle East and have touched cultures around the world. Superficially, most of the Nasreddin stories may be told as jokes or humorous Anecdotes. They are told and retold endlessly in the teahouses and caravanserais of Asia and can be heard in homes and on the radio. But it is inherent in a Nasreddin story at many levels that it may be understood. There is the joke, Followed by a moral - and usually the little extra which Brings the consciousness of the potential mystic a little further on the way to realization.



General characteristics of the Anecdotes

The Anecdotes attributed to him reveal a satirical personality with a biting tongue that he was not afraid to use, even against the most Tyrannical Rulers of his time. He is the symbol of the Middle-Eastern satirical comedy and the rebellious feelings of the people against the dynasties that once this part of the world Ruled.
Some mystic traditions use, jokes, stories and poetry to express certain ideas, allowing the bypassing of the normal discriminative thought patterns. The rationality that confines and objectifies the thinking process is the opposite to the intuitive, gestalt Mentality that the mystic is attempting to engage, enter and retain.
By Developing a series of impacts that reinforce certain key ideas, the rational mind is occupied with a surface meaning whilst other concepts are introduced. Thus paradox, unexpectedness, and alternatives to convention are all Expressed. Several Although there are books that attempt to put together the many jokes attributed to him, most people encounter his jokes in the context of their daily lives. Often, a Nasreddin joke is told by one party when the other party makes the kind of mistake that Nasreddin had parodied.
Some tales of Nasreddin are also adapted and used as teaching stories by followers of Sufism. This is such a common practice that, given the nature of many of Nasreddin's jokes, Multiple Interpretations (or Several 'layers' of meaning) are to be expected. Idries Shah, a well-known Sufi and writer, published a number of collections of Nasreddin stories (see list below), and Suggested that the stories' various layers of meaning have a teaching-effect.




Delivering a Impartations Lectures Under

Once, Nasreddin was invited to deliver a Impartations Lectures Under. When he got on the minbar (pulpit), he asked, the "Do you know what I am going to say? The audience replied "NO", so he announced, "I have no desire to speak to the people who do not even know what I will be talking about!" And he has left.
The people felt embarrassed and called him back again the next day. This time, when he's asked the same question, the people replied "YES". So Nasreddin said, "Well, since you already know what I am going to say, I will not waste any more of your time!" And he has left.
Now the people were really perplexed. They decided to try one more time and once again invited the Mullah to speak the Following week. Once again, he asked the same question - "Do you know what I am going to say?" Now to the people and so half of them were Prepared Answered "YES" while the other half replied "NO". So Nasreddin said "The half who know what I am going to say, tell it to the other half," and he has left.
Two sides of a river

Nasreddin sat on a river bank when someone shouted to him from the opposite side:
- "Hey, how do I get to the other side?"
- "You are on the other side!" Nasreddin shouted back.
Whom do you trust

A neighbor comes to the gate of Mulla Nasreddin's yard. The Mulla goes out to meet him outside.
"Would you mind, Mulla," the neighbor without love, "lending me your donkey today? I have some goods to transport to the next town."
The Mulla does not feel Inclined to lend out the animal to that particular man, / an, so, not to seem rude, he answers:
"I'm sorry, but I've already lent him to somebody else."
Suddenly the donkey can be heard braying loudly behind the wall of the yard.
"You lied to me, Mulla!" exclaims the neighbor. "There it is behind that wall!"
"What do you mean?" the Mulla replies indignantly. "Whom would you rather believe, a donkey or your Mulla?"
Taste the Same

Children of Hodja saw coming from the vineyard with 2 basketfuls of Grapes on his donkey, gathered around him and asked him to give them some.
Hodja picked up a bunch of Grapes, cut it up into pieces and gave each child a piece.
"You have so much, but you gave us so little," the children COMPLAINED.
"There is no difference whether you have a small piece or a basketful. They all taste the same," remarked Hodja.




Today, Nasreddin stories are told in a wide variety of regions, and have been translated into many languages. Some regions independently developed a character similar to Nasreddin, and the stories have become part of a larger whole. In many regions, Nasreddin is a major part of the culture, and is quoted or alluded to frequently in daily life. Since there are Thousands of different Nasreddin stories, one can not be found to fit almost any occasion. [10] Nasreddin appears to often as a whimsical character of a large Albanian, Arab, Armenia, Azerbaijani, Bengali, Bosnian, Bulgarian, Green, Hindi, Italian, Pashto, Persia, Romanian, Serbian, Turkish and Urdu folk tradition of vignettes, not entirely different from zen koans. He is also very popular in Greece for his wisdom and his judgment, he is also known in Bulgaria, although in a different role to play, see below. He has been very popular in China for many years, and still appears to the variety of movies, cartoons, and Novels.