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Transcript

Nasreddin’s Clever Solution: A Story About Fairness · Faithfully Explore!

0:00
Laura: Explorers, I was just walking past a kitchen when someone lifted the lid off a pot of soup.
0:07
Laura: It smells so good.
0:10
Laura: Warm vegetables, fragrant spices.
0:13
Laura: Mm.
0:15
Innkeeper: That will be three coins
0:18
Laura: Three coins?
0:19
Laura: For what?
0:21
Innkeeper: For smelling my soup
0:23
Laura: Hold on.
0:24
Laura: I didn't order lunch.
0:25
Laura: I didn't pick up a spoon.
0:27
Laura: I didn't eat even one little bite.
0:30
Laura: Can someone really charge me for a sniff?
0:34
Laura: I'm Laura, and this is Faithfully Explore, the show where we discover stories, cultures, beliefs, and big ideas from around the world.
0:44
Laura: Today, we're meeting a storyteller's favorite problem-solver, Nasreddin Hodja.
0:51
Laura: When a hungry man faces a very strange demand, Nasreddin finds an answer that makes everyone stop, think, and laugh.
1:02
Faithfully Explore! Intro: Faithfully Explore!
1:04
Faithfully Explore! Intro: is the name.
1:07
Faithfully Explore! Intro: Learning together is our aim.
1:11
Faithfully Explore! Intro: Beliefs around the globe we'll track, filling up our Belief Backpack.
1:18
Laura: Our story today is loved in Turkey, not the bird, but the country, also known as Türkiye.
1:25
Laura: Turkey stretches across parts of two continents, Europe and Asia.
1:32
Laura: One of its cities, Istanbul, has neighborhoods on both sides of a waterway called the Bosporus.
1:39
Laura: You can take a ferry from the European side to the Asian side and still be in the same city.
1:47
Laura: Imagine telling someone, "I went to another continent this afternoon."
1:52
Laura: They say, "Wow!
1:55
Laura: Was it a long journey?"
1:56
Laura: And you'd say, "Nope, just a boat ride across the city."
2:01
Laura: People in Turkey have many foods, traditions, and stories to share.
2:06
Laura: One popular food is lentil soup.
2:10
Laura: Lentils are little seeds that become soft when cooked, and they can make a wonderfully comforting meal.
2:18
Laura: But today, our most important ingredient is a story.
2:24
Laura: Nasreddin Hodja appears in funny tales told for generations.
2:29
Laura: Sometimes he is wise.
2:31
Laura: Sometimes he makes a mistake.
2:34
Laura: Sometimes he says something so surprising that you laugh first and understand it a moment later.
2:42
Laura: People in many countries beyond Turkey tell Nasreddin stories too, using different versions of his name.
2:50
Laura: These stories have traveled from person to person, and storytellers don't always tell them exactly the same way.
2:58
Laura: We're stepping into one of those tales now.
3:03
Laura: Long ago in a busy town, a traveler arrived at the marketplace.
3:09
Laura: He had walked a long way.
3:12
Laura: Dust clung to his shoes and his stomach had begun making announcements.
3:19
Traveler: Yes, I heard you.
3:21
Traveler: You mentioned lunch at the bridge and again by the well.
3:26
Laura: The traveler said.
3:28
Laura: He patted his pocket.
3:30
Laura: Inside was a small piece of bread wrapped in a cloth.
3:34
Laura: There were no coins left for a meal.
3:38
Laura: He unwrapped the bread and pressed it with his thumb.
3:42
Laura: It was hard around the edges.
3:44
Traveler: Well, at least you traveled well.
3:46
Traveler: Nothing could squash you.
3:48
Laura: He told his stomach.
3:50
Laura: Around him, the market bustled.
3:52
Laura: A seller arranged bright cloth.
3:55
Laura: A woman inspected a clay jug.
3:57
Laura: Someone hurried past carrying a basket of vegetables.
4:02
Laura: Then the traveler noticed a smell.
4:05
Laura: He stopped.
4:07
Laura: He turned his head, and he took one hopeful sniff.
4:12
Laura: Then said,
4:13
Traveler: Oh, now that smells like lunch.
4:16
Laura: The smell came from an inn, a place where travelers could buy food and find somewhere to stay.
4:24
Laura: Near its open doorway, a large pot of soup was bubbling over a small cooking fire.
4:31
Laura: The innkeeper stirred it with a long spoon, round and round.
4:36
Traveler: Excuse me, do you have a little soup you could spare?
4:40
Laura: the traveler asked,
4:42
Traveler: I have bread, but no money for a bowl.
4:45
Innkeeper: Soup is for paying customers.
4:48
Laura: The innkeeper replied.
4:50
Traveler: I understand.
4:51
Laura: The traveler agreed and stepped aside.
4:54
Laura: He didn't reach for a bowl.
4:56
Laura: He didn't touch the spoon.
4:59
Laura: But as the breeze carried the steam toward him, he had an idea.
5:04
Traveler: Perhaps my bread could borrow a little of that wonderful smell.
5:09
Laura: He thought.
5:10
Laura: He held the bread in the drifting steam above the edge of the pot without touching the soup.
5:19
Laura: Then he took a bite.
5:21
Laura: Still hard bread, but with the delicious smell around him, it was easier to imagine a proper lunch.
5:30
Laura: He took another bite, and that was when the innkeeper looked up.
5:35
Innkeeper: Aha!
5:36
Laura: The innkeeper shouted.
5:38
Laura: The traveler froze with a crumb on his chin.
5:41
Traveler: Aha.
5:42
Traveler: What?
5:43
Laura: The traveler questioned.
5:44
Innkeeper: You have been enjoying my soup.
5:47
Laura: The innkeeper replied.
5:49
Traveler: I've been eating my bread.
5:51
Laura: The traveler responded.
5:53
Innkeeper: With the smell of my soup.
5:55
Laura: The innkeeper complained.
5:56
Traveler: Well, yes.
5:58
Traveler: It smells very good.
5:59
Laura: The traveler said.
6:01
Innkeeper: Exactly.
6:02
Innkeeper: And good soup costs money.
6:04
Innkeeper: You owe me three coins.
6:06
Laura: Insisted the Innkeeper.
6:08
Laura: "Three coins?"
6:10
Laura: The traveler looked at his bread, then the pot, then the bread again, as though it might explain what had happened.
6:19
Traveler: But I haven't eaten any soup.
6:22
Laura: The traveler said.
6:24
Innkeeper: You enjoyed the smell.
6:26
Innkeeper: The smell came from my cooking.
6:28
Innkeeper: Therefore, you must pay.
6:30
Laura: Answered the innkeeper.
6:31
Laura: A woman carrying a basket slowed her steps.
6:35
Laura: A cloth seller leaned out of his stall.
6:38
Laura: The traveler's face grew hot.
6:41
Laura: It was uncomfortable being accused of something in front of strangers.
6:46
Traveler: I didn't know you were selling smells.
6:48
Traveler: There was no sign.
6:50
Traveler: I never agreed to buy one.
6:52
Laura: The traveler grumbled.
6:53
Innkeeper: Three coins.
6:55
Laura: Commanded the innkeeper.
6:56
Traveler: I don't have three coins.
6:58
Laura: Protested the traveler.
7:00
Innkeeper: Then we shall ask Nasreddin Hodja to settle this.
7:04
Laura: The innkeeper insisted.
7:06
Laura: In this story, Nasreddin was serving as a judge, someone people could ask to settle disagreements.
7:13
Laura: So off they went, the innkeeper marching ahead and the traveler following with his little piece of bread.
7:22
Laura: Nasreddin sat in a shaded courtyard.
7:25
Laura: He looked up as the two men approached.
7:28
Nasreddin: Good afternoon.
7:29
Nasreddin: What brings you here?
7:31
Laura: asked Nasreddin.
7:32
Innkeeper: This man owes me money.
7:34
Laura: snapped the innkeeper.
7:36
Traveler: I haven't eaten
7:36
Laura: the traveler added
7:38
Innkeeper: he used my
7:39
Laura: the innkeeper interrupted
7:41
Nasreddin: One at a time, please.
7:42
Nasreddin: I have two ears, but they prefer listening to the same story.
7:46
Laura: Nasreddin said.
7:48
Laura: The men stopped talking.
7:50
Laura: Nasreddin gestured for them to sit and said.
7:54
Nasreddin: First you.
7:55
Nasreddin: Tell me what happened at your inn.
7:56
Laura: The innkeeper responded.
7:58
Innkeeper: I was making soup, very good soup.
8:01
Innkeeper: I bought the ingredients, prepared the vegetables, built the fire, and stirred the pot.
8:08
Nasreddin: That sounds like work.
8:09
Laura: Acknowledged Nasreddin.
8:11
Innkeeper: It was.
8:12
Innkeeper: Then this man held his bread in the steam and enjoyed the smell without paying me.
8:18
Laura: Complained the innkeeper.
8:20
Nasreddin: Did you serve him a bowl?
8:21
Laura: asked Nasreddin.
8:23
Innkeeper: No
8:24
Laura: replied the innkeeper
8:26
Nasreddin: A cup?
8:26
Innkeeper: No
8:27
Nasreddin: One tiny spoonful?
8:29
Innkeeper: No, he took the smell
8:31
Laura: Nasreddin nodded slowly.
8:34
Laura: Then he turned to the traveler and said.
8:37
Nasreddin: Now, please tell me what happened from your side.
8:40
Traveler: I was hungry.
8:41
Traveler: I asked whether he could spare some soup, and he said no.
8:45
Traveler: I only held my own bread in the steam.
8:49
Traveler: I didn't take any soup from the pot.
8:51
Traveler: Now he says I owe him three coins.
8:54
Laura: Explained the traveler.
8:56
Nasreddin: Did he agree to pay for the smell?
8:57
Laura: Nasreddin questioned.
8:59
Traveler: No, I didn't think smelling lunch was something you could order.
9:03
Laura: The traveler answered.
9:04
Laura: Nasreddin rested his chin in his hand.
9:08
Laura: The innkeeper folded his arms.
9:11
Laura: The traveler waited.
9:13
Laura: Even the people who had followed them from the market grew quiet.
9:18
Laura: Explorers, it's your turn to think.
9:21
Laura: What would you say if you were helping solve this problem?
9:26
Laura: Would you ask another question?
9:29
Laura: Explain why the demand is unfair?
9:33
Laura: Can you imagine a surprising answer?
9:35
Laura: Keep your idea in mind.
9:37
Laura: Let's see what Nasreddin comes up with.
9:40
Laura: Nasreddin sat up and proclaimed
9:44
Nasreddin: Let me make sure I understand.
9:46
Nasreddin: You want payment for the smell, and only the smell, of your soup?
9:51
Innkeeper: Yes, at last someone understands.
9:54
Laura: the innkeeper smirked.
9:56
Nasreddin: Very well.
9:57
Nasreddin: I will provide the payment.
9:59
Laura: Nasreddin insisted.
10:00
Laura: The traveler stared at him and whined.
10:04
Traveler: But Hodja
10:05
Nasreddin: Listen carefully.
10:07
Laura: Nasreddin ordered.
10:08
Laura: The innkeeper immediately unfolded his arms, and he held out one eager hand.
10:14
Laura: Nasreddin reached into his pocket.
10:17
Laura: Something small caught the light.
10:20
Laura: A coin?
10:21
Laura: Then another.
10:23
Laura: Nasreddin held the two coins where the innkeeper could see them.
10:27
Laura: The innkeeper's fingers reached further, but Nasreddin didn't drop the coins into his hand.
10:34
Laura: Instead, he tapped them together.
10:38
Nasreddin: Did you hear that clearly?
10:40
Laura: asked Nasreddin.
10:41
Innkeeper: Of course I heard it.
10:43
Laura: snapped the innkeeper.
10:44
Nasreddin: Excellent!
10:45
Laura: Nasreddin cried.
10:46
Laura: Nasreddin put the coins back into his pocket.
10:50
Nasreddin: Your payment is complete.
10:52
Laura: said Nasreddin.
10:53
Laura: The innkeeper looked at his empty palm.
10:56
Laura: He looked back up at Nasreddin and complained
11:00
Innkeeper: What payment?
11:01
Innkeeper: You haven't given me any money.
11:04
Nasreddin: And he hasn't eaten any soup.
11:06
Nasreddin: You have heard my coins just as he smelled your cooking.
11:09
Nasreddin: The sound tastes for the smell.
11:11
Laura: Nasreddin told him.
11:13
Laura: For a moment, nobody spoke.
11:16
Laura: Then the woman with the basket chuckled.
11:19
Laura: The cloth seller grinned, and the traveler let out the breath he had been holding.
11:26
Traveler: So I don't owe him three coins?
11:29
Laura: wondered the traveler.
11:31
Nasreddin: You do not.
11:32
Laura: Nasreddin said matter of factly.
11:34
Innkeeper: But you can't buy anything with a sound.
11:38
Laura: whined the innkeeper.
11:39
Nasreddin: And you can't fill a hungry stomach with a smell.
11:42
Laura: Nasreddin explained.
11:44
Laura: The innkeeper opened his mouth, then closed it, then glanced at his empty hand once more.
11:51
Laura: Nasreddin's answer had made the problem clear.
11:54
Laura: The traveler had taken no soup.
11:57
Laura: So Nasreddin had handed over no coins.
12:01
Laura: Asking for real money had been unfair.
12:05
Laura: Slowly, the innkeeper lowered his hand.
12:08
Innkeeper: Well, I had better get back to my pot.
12:12
Laura: He walked away with something new to think about as he stirred.
12:18
Laura: Explorers, did you guess how Nasreddin would solve the problem?
12:22
Laura: He listened before deciding, he asked what had actually happened, and he helped someone who was being treated unfairly.
12:33
Laura: His joke worked because it showed what was wrong with the demand.
12:37
Laura: Now let's bring that idea into our own lives.
12:41
Laura: Imagine you're playing a game.
12:43
Laura: Everyone agrees that the first person to reach ten points win.
12:47
Laura: You score your tenth point.
12:49
Laura: "I did it!"
12:50
Laura: you shout.
12:52
Laura: But another player says, "Actually, now you need fifteen points."
12:58
Laura: Hold on.
12:58
Laura: Can someone change the rules just because they're losing?
13:04
Laura: That wouldn't be fair to the other players.
13:07
Laura: You could say, "We all agreed on ten points.
13:10
Laura: Let's finish this game with the rules we started with."
13:14
Laura: You can suggest using different rules for the next game when everyone has a chance to agree.
13:20
Laura: Like Nasreddin, you don't have to shout to make a good point.
13:25
Laura: You can calmly remind everyone what's fair.
13:29
Laura: Sometimes the most helpful words are simple.
13:33
Laura: "That doesn't seem fair.
13:35
Laura: Can we talk about it?"
13:37
Laura: Let's try saying that together.
13:40
Laura: "That doesn't seem fair.
13:42
Laura: Can we talk about it?"
13:44
Laura: And if someone won't listen or you feel nervous, you can ask a trusted grown-up to help.
13:52
Laura: You don't have to solve every disagreement on your own.
13:56
Laura: What's inside our belief backpack this week?
14:02
Laura: Today's Belief Backpack takeaway is: be fair and speak up when something is unfair.
14:11
Laura: Can you say that with me?
14:13
Laura: Be fair and speak up when something is unfair.
14:19
Laura: This week, try one fairness check.
14:22
Laura: During a game, a classroom activity, or a disagreement, pause and ask, "Has everyone had a chance to explain?"
14:32
Laura: Maybe someone has been blamed before anyone heard their side.
14:37
Laura: Maybe a player is changing the rules halfway through a game.
14:41
Laura: You can listen, ask a question, or get help finding a fair solution.
14:47
Laura: That's something useful to carry in your Belief Backpack.
14:52
Laura: Today, we traveled to Turkey, met a famous character from a shared storytelling tradition, and discovered a very unusual way to settle an argument.
15:04
Laura: One smell of soup, the sound of two little coins, and a lesson worth remembering.
15:11
Laura: Until next time, this has been Laura from Faithfully Explore.
15:15
Laura: Stay curious, stay kind, and keep faithfully exploring that wonderful world around you.
15:21
Faithfully Explore! Outro: Faithfully Explore!
15:24
Faithfully Explore! Outro: is about you.
15:29
Faithfully Explore! Outro: Let's grow kinder together it's true!