Tales of Wisdom and Wonder by Hugh Lipton

I’m always in search of spiritually fulfilling books to read to the 5 year old. With moral education simply a no-show in public schools, although maybe that’s a good thing given the current political climate, it seems vital to supply something to fill up the insides. It makes me wonder: aren’t some ideas universally true, free from any religious and political context?

When I found Tales of Wisdom and Wonder by storyteller Hugh Lipton, I rejoiced. My favorite is his rendition of the West African story called “The Blind Man and the Hunter”. It is about a blind man who is clever and wise and “knows more about the world than people who see”, attributing his wisdom to his ability to “see with his ears”. In the course of this story, the blind man begs to be taken hunting by his brother-in-law, the macho hunter who really can’t believe there’s any value in taking a blind guy hunting. So it goes that the hunter does take the blind man out. Of course, the blind man begins to impress the hunter with the ability to discern the world even more clearly than the hunter. Still, at the end, the hunter tricks the blind man, taking the better and more beautiful bird for himself. He asks the blind man this:

”If you’re so clever and you see with your ears, then answer me this: why is there so much anger and hatred and warfare in this world?” And the blind man answered: “Because the world is full of so many people like you—who take what is not theirs.” And suddenly the hunter was filled with bitter shame. He took the little grey bird out of the blind man’s hand and gave him the beautiful green, crimson and gold one instead. “I’m sorry,” he said. And they walked and they walked, and then the hunter said: “If you’re so clever and see with your ears, then answer me this: why is there so much love and kindness and gentleness in this world?” And the blind man answered: “Because the world is full of so many people like you—who learn by their mistakes.” And they walked and they walked until they came home to the village. And from that day onwards if the hunter heard anyone ask: “Blind man, how is it that you are so wise?” He would put his arm around the blind man’s shoulders and say” “Because he sees with his ears…and hears with his heart.”

I’d like to hope that people retain the ability to feel bitter shame as well as the ability to change and to forgive.

This book was published by Barefoot Books in 1998.
Update: Here is the link to Hugh Lipton's page on Barefoot Books.