Innovation

                                                A pet cat tied to a tree in Bangalore

Last week I saw this beautiful cat tied to a tree by its owner.I have never seen a cat being tied to a tree.In my childhood I always had a pet cat.Looking at this cat tied to a tree inspired me to write this blog on innovation.

Once upon a time there was Buddhist monastery.The monks at the monastery had a tradition of tying a cat to a pole before they sat down for meditation.Nobody knew the reason for tying the cat.It was religiously followed as a tradition passed down by the masters to their disciples.

One day one monk decided he should find out the reason for tying a cat before start of meditation.He asked the oldest monk at the monastery as to what was the reason behind the act of tying a cat.The old monk smiled and replied,"In olden times the monks at monastery had a pet cat.Everytime the monks sat down for meditation the cat would disturb the monks.To prevent this,the monks would tie the cat to the pole before sitting down for meditation".

Over period of time the old monks died and the tradition of tying the cat continued.Nobody questioned why the ritual of tying a cat was followed.Monks later kept cats as pets and tied them to pole as a ritual before starting mediation.This is exactly what happens in our daily lives.We never question as to why things are,the way they are?.Asking questions is considered as dissent and challenging status quo,thereby preventing innovation and new ideas from coming up!!!