Thursday, May 17, 2012

Ubuntu Philosophy



An anthropologist suggested the following game to a group of children in a tribe in Africa: He placed a basket full of fresh fruits under a tree. He then said that whoever reached the basket first in a race would be the winner of all the fruits. As he gave the signal to begin the race, the whole group held hands, ran bonded together and then sat and enjoyed the prize together.

When he asked why they had done such thing, when he had offered the possibility to one to be the ultimate winner. They replied: " UBUNTU"-- how could one of us be happy [feel happiness] while the rest are in despair, unhappy?

Ubuntu in the Xhosa culture means: "I am, because we are."

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

That is so very very sweet. So much we can learn from so many. Thank you Devorah. Your blog is really a blessing to me.

One thought if I may be permitted. It was sweet what the children did thinking of each other, on the other hand had one of them won, he could have shared his prize with the rest.

Just a thought. But their unity is admirable.

Bat Aliyah said...

I once saw a cartoon where two animals were tied together. There were two piles of food at opposite ends of the field. In one frame, the animals were pulling away from one another but neither could reach a pile of food. In the second frame, they were side-by-side next to one of the piles of food. Oy! How I long for the days when we Jews behave with this level of ahavat Yisrael.

Anonymous said...

Bat Aliyah, Amain, with prayers and no Lashon Hara, and being kind even when we do not feel like it.... It will happen, It will happen...
Please Hashem soon..
Amain.

Od Avinu |Chai.

Am Israel Chai.

Anonymous said...

Exactly my thoughts.....