hitopadesha

Even the learned ones have more to learn…

One day in ancient India, a learned brahmin priest was on his way to another village to preside over a religious ceremony. He had to cross a river on his way and he engaged a boatman to help him get across. Both of them got into the boat and the boatman started to paddle. To keep the journey interesting, the brahmin started a conversation with the boatman and asked him if he underwent any formal education. Of course, the boatman was not educated and he replied that he had to take care of his family and never got an opportunity to go to school.

Being a proud brahmin priest, he wanted to feel superior in front of the boatman and asked him if he has read the Vedas. The boatman replied that he has not and asked him what are the Vedas. Then the priest replied that they are the compilation of the most profound knowledge given to the humans by the Gods themselves and studying them made one wiser. He continued to tell the boatman that since he has not read the Vedas, a quarter of his life is already wasted. Persisting with his questions, he then asked the boatman if he has read the Upanishads. Of course the boatman has not read that too and he replied thus. Upon hearing this, the priest said that it was such a pity that a half of his life has been wasted since he did not read the Upanishads. The boatman starts to feel miserable now after hearing that he has missed the opportunity to study and learn the scriptures that has been given to the humans by the Gods. Not satisfied with this, the priest then asks the boatman if he has atleast read the Bhagawad Gita which is the minimum a man has to learn in order to salvage his life from ignorance. The already miserable boatman was feeling terrible and he replied with great sadness that he has not learnt it. Feeling elated that he has proved how intelligent he was to the boatman, the brahmin said that a three quarter of his life has been completely wasted.

As they were having this conversation, a mild storm started brewing in a corner and was quickly gaining strength. Being a small boat it could not face the warth of the storm and water started quickly filling inside the boat and it started to sink. The boatman quickly gets up and asked the priest if he knew how to swim. No surprise here, the brahmin priest of course did not know swimming and he replies in a shaky voice that indeed he does not know how to swim. The boatman looks at him with all confidence and says, ‘Oh venerable priest, it looks like your whole life is wasted now as all the knowledge that you learnt so far is not going to help you here.’ Saying that he jumps into the river to swim to safety.

It is a simple story with a profound message. Couple of things we learn from this is that no matter how learned we are, there is always something more to learn and if the knowledge is all theoritical then they can be as sometimes equated to no knowledge itself.

peace,
Aditya.