The Mountain of No Return

SARA BUBBER tells a beautiful Japanese folktale on valuing wisdom and experience and asks you to do a personal reflective exercise.

- SARA BUBBER

A Japanese Folktale

Once there lived a farmer who lived with his mother on a small piece of land. He worked and earned his food. Despite being poor, he led a happy and peaceful life. His nation, Shining, was ruled by a dictatorial king who was also a skilled warrior. Despite being a warrior, he feared anything that indicated ill-health and lack of strength. He thought weaknesses hindered the country's progress. One day, he issued a terrible order to abandon all the elderly people, whom he regarded as a symbol of sickness. People were very scared of the powerful king and so they did not raise any objections to his order.

The poor farmer adored and respected his loving mother more than anything else in life. So, the cruel ruler’s order made him feel sad, since he did not want his mother to be abandoned.

He thought of a plan to save his mother, but in vain. The poor farmer prepared himself to carry out the king’s command as he lacked the courage to disobey. He looked for gentle ways of leaving his mother and so chose to leave her on the mountain of no return.

The next day the farmer completed his work and prepared to take his mother up the mountain. He packed raw rice and filled a gourd with cool sweet water around his neck in a bundle. With a heavy heart, he bundled up his mother and swung her onto his back.