A scholar was travelling across the Ganges, the most famous river in India. As his boatman rowed him on the river, the pundit was bored. He was quite proud of his learning, and looked down upon the illiterate boatman. Just for curiosity's sake, he asked the boatman,
"Brother, have you studied the scriptures?"
"No, Sir" Replied the poor boatman.
"Oh, 1/4 of your life is wasted."
Some time passed. The pundit wanted to show off his knowledge. He asked,
"Have you studied Sanskrit?" Sanskrit was the language of the scholars.
"Oh No Sir" Replied the boat man, feeling embarassed now.
" Too bad. half of your life is gone in vain "
After some time, he asked again, perhaps knowing well the answer:
"Do you know about the six systems of Hindu philosophy?"
"No Sir, how could I?" Replied the now red faced boat man.
"Then three quarters of your life is wasted" Said the pundit.
The pundit sat back gloating.
Suddenly, the wind started blowing heavily. Black clouds thundered in the sky and the river was heaving, throwing the boat up and down.
As they clung on to their crazily bobbing boat, the boat man asked,
"Punditji, do you know swimming?"
"No, brother" replied the panic stricken scholar.
"Well then, I am afraid your entire life is wasted!" said the boat man as he left the boat and plunged into the river.
The pundit met his unceremonious end in that storm.
We plan and do many things in life. We set up career goals, indulge in pleasures, try to achieve social status...
But when a crisis strikes, none of these things can help us.
Only a well composed and disciplined mind can help us steer our way out of life's tough situations.
Therefore the most important thing we should do is to master ourselves with meditation and other spiritual practices
"Brother, have you studied the scriptures?"
"No, Sir" Replied the poor boatman.
"Oh, 1/4 of your life is wasted."
Some time passed. The pundit wanted to show off his knowledge. He asked,
"Have you studied Sanskrit?" Sanskrit was the language of the scholars.
"Oh No Sir" Replied the boat man, feeling embarassed now.
" Too bad. half of your life is gone in vain "
After some time, he asked again, perhaps knowing well the answer:
"Do you know about the six systems of Hindu philosophy?"
"No Sir, how could I?" Replied the now red faced boat man.
"Then three quarters of your life is wasted" Said the pundit.
The pundit sat back gloating.
Suddenly, the wind started blowing heavily. Black clouds thundered in the sky and the river was heaving, throwing the boat up and down.
As they clung on to their crazily bobbing boat, the boat man asked,
"Punditji, do you know swimming?"
"No, brother" replied the panic stricken scholar.
"Well then, I am afraid your entire life is wasted!" said the boat man as he left the boat and plunged into the river.
The pundit met his unceremonious end in that storm.
We plan and do many things in life. We set up career goals, indulge in pleasures, try to achieve social status...
But when a crisis strikes, none of these things can help us.
Only a well composed and disciplined mind can help us steer our way out of life's tough situations.
Therefore the most important thing we should do is to master ourselves with meditation and other spiritual practices
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