Lessons From The Little Prince

Well, it's time to counter some of the negativity in this blog. We need to have a happy-mushy post for the sake of balance.

The Little Prince is one of my all-time favorite books. The lessons to be learned from that short but profound book are priceless and enduring. I think our society won't do bad if we include this title as one of the required readings for all levels of education. We can all grow up too easily, forgetting the children that we once were. Hopefully, that book can prevent kids from growing up into jaded, crooked, and useless adults like yours truly.

And so, I would like to outline some of the lessons that can be learned from The Little Prince. His simplicity and naiveté reveals the wisdom to be found in an innocent outlook in life.

What is essential is invisible to the eye

Of course, this is not referring to women's undergarments or bikini shots (though I would like to interpret it as such). It just points to looking for the essences of things and to not be preoccupied with appearances. Seems like a Buddhist teaching of trying to look beyond the tip your nose. For those who read the book, the previous line goes: It is with the heart that one can see rightly. Like looking for a well in the middle of the desert, or cherishing the house because of a secret treasure, it's not what we immediately see that gives importance. It's the essence and significance of an act, person, or event that's truly important. 

You're forever responsible for those that you tamed. 

This is not an S&M (the master is responsible for those which he/she trained) reference, though it can be. This is a reference to the importance of bonds that we make in our life. Friends, family, and loved ones--we are all responsible for those we have "tamed", and those who have "tamed" us. It's such a wonderful notion of looking out for each other and treasuring the connections that we made. As time goes by, it's easy to forget the friends that we made, the past loves, and even our relationship with our family. The simple reminder is that: we should not forget the bonds that we made. 

watch out for the baobabs!

In simple terms, just do not become an addict. Things start out simply, then they would spiral out of control if one is not watchful. Like with addiction, it starts with a simple try, then it would escalate to a habit, then full addiction. But in serious terms, there is the need for diligence and discipline. If you remember, the baobab was just teeny weed and the owner of the planet was a lazy bum. That laziness paved the way for the growth and the eventual invasion of the baobab. So, if you're not careful, you'll end up with something more than you can handle. Big problems always start out small. So stamp out that baobab! (Or weed)

Words are the source of misunderstandings.

Don't we all know it. It's just like saying someone is a good guy then stabbing him in the back. Gestures are stronger than words. Next time, don't say anything and just smack the guy right in the face. But going back to The Little Prince, this is what the Fox said to the Little Prince when establishing rites and taming someone (or something). It's essential to just be silent and let your feelings show through your actions. It just means there should be a feeling out process and let the relationship grow naturally. 

One must observe the proper rites...

You must be wearing a white robe, wash your neck and rinse your short sword with sake or alcohol. Then before slitting your stomach open, you also need to enlist the help of a trusted servant or friend to chop your head when things get too painful. You need to follow the rite, or a certain order of things. This what the wise Fox teaches us: there's a certain way in doing things, and you need to do things with regularity and patience. The Fox also tells us that these things take time, and so you have to wait it out. 

It is the time you have wasted for your rose that makes your rose so important.

It's the direct invitation and license for us to waste our time. The more we waste time on something, the more important it becomes. The more we expend our efforts pursuing useless things, the greater the value there is. It's like giving us permission to keep on living fruitless lives. So, we can pick our noses, scratch our bums, and sit in front of the TV or game console for all eternity and it will be alright. 

But in the case of the Little Prince, it's about the investment of time. It is the time that you spent on someone or something that makes it significant and special. It indicates two things: it takes time to build a meaningful connection, and all that time spent is by no means for naught. 

There are several more lessons to be learned from The Little Prince. I know fans of this book would be wanting to kill me now, but that just shows my point: it's one great book. When someone makes fun of it, you feel obligated to protect it. Just like how you would like to protect the Little Prince like that pilot did (yes, you, you Pedo! Shotacon!). It's a must-read. It deserves saying again: it's a must read.