Here, a story from that site:
quote:Apataki:
Orunmila had returned to earth to see how all the Babalawos he had trained in the arts of divination were getting along. He decided to travel from town to town and greet his old students.
"Orunmila, how nice to see you," said one. "I don't have time to talk with you now, I have an appointment."
"Orunmila, how are you?" said another. "If you come back on Wednesday, I'll be able to see you."
"Orunmila, I'm very busy with my clients right now," said a third. "Could you come back in a day or so?"
Orunmila was furious. All his old students were ignoring him. They were too concerned with making money and having a big reputation to honor their old teacher. Orunmila decided to teach them a lesson.
He sent out notice that he would challenge all the Babalawos to a contest to see who cast the most accurate oracles. Orunmila figured that, after they had been shamed by his incomparable skill, all the Babalawos would respect him again.
After the notices had been sent, he went to the nearest town and challenged the Babalawo. Orunmila proved to be a far better reader of the oracles, of course. But, the Babalawo refused to pay Orunmila the agreed upon amount.
Elegua, who is never far away and always likes to play tricks, walked up to Orunmila and the Babalawo.
"Hello, Orunmila, how are you today?" said Elegua.
"I am angry, Elegua." fumed Orunmila.
"And, why is that, dear Orunmila?" Elegua tried to stifle his giggles, since he knew perfectly well what had been going on.
"This cheat of a Babalawo has lost a wager with me," answered Orunmila. "And now, he refuses to pay."
Elegua looked up and down the nervous Babalawo. "Is that right? Are you trying to cheat Orunmila?"
"Well, Lord Elegua..." stammered the Babalawo.
Before he could say another word, Elegua reached out and put his powerful warrior's hand around the Babalawo's neck. He looked at the man straight in the eye.
"Tell me," he said softly, "are you looking for trouble?"
"No," squeaked the Babalawo.
Elegua raised his garabato stick over the Babalawo's head.
"You'd never do anything to make me angry, would you?" growled Elegua.
Another squeak, "No."
"And what are you going to do?" asked Elegua, tapping the unhappy Babalawo on the nose with his garabato stick.
"I'm going to pay Orunmila?" asked the Babalawo.
"What was that?" shouted Elegua, shaking the Babalawo back and forth.
"I'm going to pay Orunmila. I'm going to pay Orunmila." stuttered the Babalawo.
He took his money pouch out of his clothes and handed the whole thing over to Orunmila.
"I thought you wanted to cheat Orunmila, but I see that you are a man who pays his debts when he loses." said Elegua and gave the Babalawo a resounding slap on the back. "I'll leave you alone."
Orunmila and Elegua turned and walked away arm in arm. The Babalawo picked himself up from the road and began dusting off his clothes.
"One more thing," said Elegua turning back to the Babalawo.
"Yes?" The Babalawo cringed.
"Since you have forgotten that the oracles are meant to communicate with the Orishas and not to increase the Babalawo's wealth, I'm prohibiting you from using the Dilogun ever again."
Orunmila and Elegua left the Babalawo wailing after them.
In the next town, the Babalawo saw Elegua and his stick standing next to Orunmila. There was no trouble there.
[ 15-11-2001: Message edited by: grant ] |
