A Tortoise and The Mountain
by
Book Cover & Preview Text
Some excerpts from the Allegory : Torii could sense that the laughter and eagerness had turned quickly into excitement and ecstasy, as everyone prepared to hike up Mount Hap. She found herself rejoicing in the chaotic rhythm. For a moment, she pondered over whether this was indeed an intuitive call from her inner self to join the humans in the trek. The attraction and adventure were just too strong to resist. Torii could not fight the temptation. Most times Torii kept to the edge of the sandy and pebbled trail. At times, rocks impeded her movements. Torii also tripped over roots, was pricked by thorns and got entangled in vines .. She had to painstakingly manoeuvre her way forward, which required much dexterity and patience. Torii had experienced and benefited from many acts of kindness along the way. She often wondered why many of us were so selfish in not extending kindness to others, when it did not cost us much to give. "Heaven always watches over the good," she thought to herself. During the times when she had difficulty sleeping, ... Torii would try to relax by thinking about the world ... and reflecting about life ... ... Each year seek to make life better For with each passing day, life gets shorter All kinds of negative emotions will hurt us Before hurting someone else All kinds of positive emotions will bless us Before giving blessings to others as well ... All the sufferings in life are not born Out of what other people think about you But it was born Out of what you think other people think about you ... You are worthy When you are a good person You are valuable forever When you have done good deeds ... Her memorable days were when she was totally immersed in the clouds while trekking. ... Torii felt safe and secure from the gentle embrace of the thick and pure white mists, despite feeling a sense of loneliness in the early hours of the morning. The peak welcomed Torii with open arms. Heaven seemed to open out to her and rejoiced in her triumphant achievement, with a magnanimous display of many brilliant hues of rich orange, bright red, vivid yellow and incandescent purple, covering a vast expanse of the sky and in the far away horizon. Torii felt on top of the world! It was as if she now had the whole world in her small pair of hands. It felt incredibly light. There was a palpable sensation of equilibrium and balance that Torii had never experienced before. ... " When you believe in the impossible, nothing gets done. But if you believe in the possible, there is often no limit and the apparent impossible becomes the possible ". " ... I may be small, but I feel big. Standing on top of the peak, I feel as if I own the whole wide world. Nothing is now too big for me, " she replied to her sage on her dream. During the moment of triumph when she set foot on the peak, it was peace eirene, when everything appeared good and right. It was also peace tharseo, where everything seemed to be in place. " If I have to eat an elephant, it will be in small bites ". For her magnificent achievement, it had been one move or a pitch at a time, one day at a time. For someone who had seen the ocean, she could no longer desire just a stream.
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About the Book
Do not be deceived by the title. “A Tortoise and The Mountain” is not a children’s story book.
It is an allegory to inspire youths and adults, through the trials and tribulations of Torii, a tortoise - a small creature which often hides in a shell and frequently associated with not wanting to deal with problems - trying to climb and conquer a massive mountain, Mount Hap, many times her size. It conveys a message of hope, courage, toil, perseverance, humility and about how it is possible to get the network of support and encouragement to guide us and to keep us going, even when the going gets tough. The parable is filled with rich imagery and descriptive text. While reading, readers will inevitably be drawn slowly and consciously to be in the shoes of Torii, to experience her incredible adventure, feel her trials and tribulations, and enjoy her final triumph over hardships and sufferings.
The author has “once again done what all good fables do and demonstrate – with perseverance and determination, success will be ours. Bide the time and bear the consequences and ultimately, the negative forces surrounding us will be defeated and joy and success will emerge triumph.”
“From the young, who will find delight in the character’s meanderings to the profound realizations at the end, all who read this remarkable fable attentively, will be enriched and will always remember the heroic adventures of our irreplaceable Torii.” Like “The Boy, the mole, the fox and the Horse”, written by Charlie Mackesy, both our boo preach the ideal moral values and virtues of hope, friendships and love, and more – solacking in our world today – and that beneath our skins of many hues and beneath, we are all universally the same.
Quote is from Professor (Dr) Kirpal Singh, Creativity Guru, Vice President of American Creativity Association and Visiting Scholar at the Stern School of Business, New York University
Critique and Review by Professor (Dr) Kirpal Singh, Creativity Guru, Vice President of American Creativity Association and Visiting Scholar at the Stern School of Business, New York University :
“A Timely and Necessary Fable ...
In writing about the trials and tribulations of Torii and her final triumph over hardships and sufferings, Lim has once again done what all good fables do and demonstrate – with perseverance and determination, success will be ours. Bide the time and bear the consequences and ultimately, the negative forces surrounding us will be defeated and joy and success will emerge triumph.
In the growing richness of Singapore’s literature – a literature that is still assiduously finding its feet, so to speak – the rarity of fables clearly stands out. It is precisely here that Lim rescues us by giving us this remarkable fable, which can be enjoyed by all. From the young, who will find delight in the character’s meanderings to the profound realisations at the end, all who read this remarkable fable attentively, will be enriched and always remember the heroic adventures of our irreplaceable Torii.”
Other reviews:
"A Tortoise and the Mountain" brought out clearly many 'conflicts' which Torii faces in her journey up the mountain. Many of the moral lessons Soon Hock tries to impart via the struggles of Torii along the way are easily grasped by the reader.”
Retired Professor Chua Joon Eng, NUS, an expert and a critic of short stories
“It is Soon Hock’s best piece thus far – the most descriptive with lots of flavour and values skilfully intertwined within. Enjoyable to read for many, especially to inspire and to entertain the youths and adults, as well as those who enjoy nature and animals.”
Shireen Cheong, short stories enthusiast and one of the authors of Golden Nuggets
“Do not be deceived by the title of the allegory. Read to be amazed by the rich imagery and beautiful text, about Torii and her incredible adventure.”
Tracy Chang, Director & Finance Manager, Calm Oceans Pte Ltd
“Be the Best You Can Be” is possibly the most important life principle for a world and a future so unpredictable, so uncertain, so unknowable. Anything less is to fail to honour our individual talents and abilities. Yet discovering the limits of “best” needs all the tenacity and resilience and venturesome we can muster. Soon Hock has well captured such a drive for discovery and accomplishment in his little story about a tortoise who tries beyond limits.”
Lim Siong Guan / Chairman, Honour (Singapore) /Joint author with Joanne H Lim of “The Leader, The Teacher & You” and “Winning with Honour”
“ ‘A Tortoise and the Mountain’ gives storytellers a variety of nuggets to share about life that can encompass the 4Ls: Live, Laugh, Love and Learn, through Torii’s ambitious journey up Mount Hap. Lessons, leaders young and old, can most certainly glean from.”
Martin Tan, Co-Founder, Halogen Foundation Singapore
“We are blessed if we have members in our lives, who can inspire us to scale lofty heights. Torii had one in her grandfather. Her timely recollection of his wise words, ‘Life is meant to be an adventure ..’ spurred her to complete the mission. May fathers inspire their children and grandchildren to dream gloriously and embrace life with joyful fulfilment.”
Richard Hoon, Chairman, Centre for Fathering & Dads for Life
“Stories have for millennia been our way of sharing insights, imparting values and remembering what is important. “A Tortoise and The Mountain” is a wonderful way to share Soon Hock’s many years of experience and lessons learned as a corporate and community leader who always kept his heart and mind on the greater good.”
Melissa Kwee, Chief Executive Officer, National Volunteerism and Philanthropy Centre
“Soon Hock’s parable about the trials and tribulations of a tortoise trying to conquer a mountain is timely, when businesses are facing more challenges in uncertain times, and should continue to persevere and be daring to do the right things.”
Dr Stephen Riady, Executive Chairman, OUE Limited
About the Author
Lim Soon Hock BBM; PBM; JP
B. Eng (Hons); Dip of BA; Grad Cert in
International Arbitration;
PEng(S); FIES; FAES; CEng(UK); FIET;
Hon Fellow of AFEO
FSCS; FSID; FSIArb
Managing Director / PLAN-B ICAG (Corporate
Advisory Practice)
Adjunct Professor / National University of Singapore
Mediator / SIMI / SMC / State Courts Singapore
Board Member / Director / Senior Advisor of Companies
Lim is the author of 3 books in the ‘Vantage Views Collection of Thoughts on Contemporary Issues’ and a co-author and co-editor of ‘Golden Nuggets’, an anthology of short stories. Each book had a limited print run of 5000 copies. All 20,000 copies were sold, raising more than S$1.2m for three charities. He received numerous awards in recognition of his work and public service. Some of these include the Supercomputing Asia 2019 – Singapore HPC-Pioneer & Achievement Award; Public Service Star ( 2014); Public Service Medal ( 2009 ); inaugural 2012 President’s Award for Volunteerism (Individual); 2016 Outstanding Volunteer Award ( Open Category ) from State Courts Singapore as a Volunteer Mediator; 2010 IES-IEEE Joint Medal of Excellence Award; 2010 Honorary Fellow of ASEAN Federation of Engineering Organisations; 2009 NUS Distinguished Alumni Service Award and 1992 NUS Distinguished Engineering Alumni Award.
Soon Hock can be contacted at vantage_views@yahoo.com.sg