Hi everybody !During my youth (1950-1970), I lived for twenty years in Istanbul and I often heard stories in the form of phylosophical jokes on Mullah Nasreddin Hodja, who apparently had lived in in Anatolia, Turkey. I was too young then to focus on the subtle vibrations of their wisdom. I discovered thiem later on by reading George Ivanovich Gurdjieff's masterpiece "All and Everything". He often mentions the Mullah, as a Master of Wisdom in his books, especially on "Beelzebub's Tales to his Grandson".
Not many people know that Nasreddin Hodja's "sories", are quite popular in the lands of Asia and in the European ones during the Ottoman Empire (1453-1924)***. If this character had existed or not it still is a dilemma. Nevertheless, there's even a tomb in Konya in his memory. However, his experiences have been handed down for hundreds of years everywhere orally as well as been published in several languages, even in Chinese. When reading these short "stories", one can "taste" a subtle humor full of good common sense coming from the wisdom of ancient Turks, through which, they rise in protest against the arrogance of the powerful of their time.
In
my turn, as much I can still remember on these stories, I will write them down
for those of you who want to have a quick look. 
CENTRE OF THE WORLD PANS THE DONKEY THE LETTER FIGS THE LADDER
I suggest the following link
http://www.readliterature.com/hodjastories.htm
Anna M. D'amico © 1962 ad oggi
STUDI RU & CONSULENZE -
Lomazzo e Montemezzo (CO) Italy