Leo Tolstoy
A certain King thought that, if only he knew the answers to the following three questions, he would never fail in anything he might undertake:
- How can I learn to do the right thing at the right time?
- Who are the people I most need, and to whom I should, therefore, pay more attention than to the rest?
- What affairs are the most important, and need my first attention?
The King offered a big reward to anyone who would give the correct answers to the questions. Many learned men came to the court and gave their answers. The answers were all different and, what is more, the King did not like any of the answers. He then decided to consult a hermit, widely renowned for his wisdom.
The hermit lived in a forest in a hut and would only receive common people. So the King put on simple clothes for the visit. Before reaching the hermit’s cell he dismounted from his horse and, leaving his body-guard behind, went on alone.
When the King approached the place, the frail and weak hermit was digging the ground in front of his hut. Seeing the King, he greeted him and went on digging. The King then asked him the three questions. The hermit listened to the King, but answered nothing. He just recommenced digging. The King then offered to do the digging to give the hermit some rest. The hermit agreed and the King took up the task.
After digging a bed, he again asked the three questions, but the hermit did not answer. After this was repeated a few times, the frustrated King told the hermit, “If you cannot answer the questions, tell me so, and I will return home.”
Just then a bearded man came running out of the forest. He collapsed at the feet of the King and the hermit because he had a severe wound in his stomach and blood was flowing out. The King attended to the injured man with great care and attention until the blood stopped flowing. He then carried the man into the hut and placed him on the bed.
By this time, the King was also very tired and he fell asleep. When he woke up in the morning, the bearded man told his story: “You killed my brother and so yesterday I planned to kill you when you walked back from the hut. I was waiting for you, but you stayed here for a long time. Meanwhile your guards spotted me and wounded me. I would have died if you had not dressed my wound. Forgive me! You have saved my life and, if you do not have me killed, I will serve you as your most faithful slave.”
The King was very glad to have made peace with an enemy so easily, and to have gained him for a friend. He not only forgave him, but said he would send his servants and his own physician to attend to him.
Then the King turned to the hermit and said: “For the last time, I request you to answer my questions, wise man.” The hermit answered: “You have already been answered! If you had not pitied my weakness yesterday, and had not dug those beds for me, but had gone your way, that man would have attacked you, and you would have repented of not having stayed with me. So the most important time was when you were digging the beds; and I was the most important man; and to do me good was your most important business.”
“Afterwards when that man ran to us, the most important time was when you were attending to him, for if you had not bound up his wounds he would have died without having made peace with you. So he was the most important man, and what you did for him was your most important business.”
“Remember then: there is only one time that is important – Now! It is the most important time because it is the only time when we have any power. The most necessary man is he with whom you are, for no man knows whether he will ever have dealings with anyone else: and the most important affair is, to do him good, because for that purpose alone was man sent into this life!”
Background: This is the abridged version of another great story written by the famous Russian author, Leo Tolstoy. You can read the full story here or here. This story teaches us great lessons.
Recall Story No. 011 How much land does a man need? also written by Tolstoy.
No doubt that we have lessons throughout our lives from different sources and from different episodes. Only if we care to take cognisance of them, we could better our lives in many ways.
I had an occasion to talk to people having plenty of everything. But they seemed to express a void in their lives unable to understand what keeps them tensed and unsatisfied. I did tell them to let go and not be bothered of what goes out of their hands. But being scared of the future, they were all unwilling to let go. Even after explaining to them that destinies are not in their control, they expressed their difficulties to free themselves from the clutches. Lessons are there to ensure putting them into practice, or else life goes on without any difference and the casualty will be to live under fear and always experiencing the unknown void.
the power of being present & aligning with caring/loving energies. Beautiful reminder and story. It demonstrates how ignorant we can become when only “thinking” instead of “feeling”.