Behind The Obvious Summary and Analysis

The teaching stories that contemplate what is 'behind the obvious' are common throughout any Nasrudin literature and, in many ways characterize a lot of the Mullah Nasrudin's teaching.

In one such story 'The Other Way Around' a disciple approaches the Mullah, asking if he can study under the Master teacher. The Mullah Nasrudin asks the disciple what he has been qualified in and the disciple replies that he has learned from some of the best teachers in the best schools, and the Mullah sadly replies that alas, if only the best teachers in the best teaching schools had been studying him instead, then the disciple might be approaching truth! This story has all the hallmarks of the 'Behind The Obvious' theme. The Mullah Nasrudin is pointing out to the disciple that studying other's (the best teacher's) and...