The story of a sage !
Once upon a time, in the jungles of southern India, there was a sage, praying for so many years towards Lord Shiva. Sitting under a Banyan tree, he meditated for ages. He lost himself as well track of time. His beard has grown grey and his surroundings very different from when he started to meditate. He felt, his only duty was to pray.
One day a hunter, ventured into the jungles, to find some for for the day. He happened to see the praying sage, sitting cross-legged, under the banyan tree. He kept looking at the bearded sage in awe, for he had seen no such man, devoted to God so much, before. He knew, he cannot go on such missions, because he had a family to feed and two children to be taken care of. He kept staring at the sage, only to wake him up.
The sage opened his eyes slowly, as the screens go off in a theatre. He saw a man standing before him, with a bow and a few arrows. He enquired the hunter, why he had dared the cold and the animals, into such forests. The hunter told him, why he had come, risking his life, to feed his family. The sage smiled a Monalisa smile at the hunter. He felt the hunter was living a miserable life, always running behind his needs. Materialistic World, he did say and started narrating his journey of life.
He had been the richest and the most powerful man in his country. Simply, he was the king of his country. He had lived his life, ruling, giving orders and enjoying all wealth. He had everything he wanted. But sooner, this World, disinterested him. He did fore go all his possessions, power and materials, to reach the abode of God. He also added that it felt too good to be a man of no wishes and needs.
The hunter listened to all of this very sincerely as a student listens to his teacher. He was amazed. A man with no needs? Won't that be wonderful? He need not run being stupid birds to feed his family, he need not risk his life for their well being. He need not be greedy on his neighbours. Too wonderful, isn't it?, he thought. But, a question pooped up in his mind. He was scared to ask it to the sage, for he was intellectual. But he mustered a little courage, to overcome his nervousness and with trembling hands, he asked the sage, "Why are you praying, dear lord?" in a very polite tone. The sage again smiled a Monalisa smile and replied, "To reach God, my son". Now, with much brave, the hunter asked the sage, "Is that not a need?". The age had no answers. He murmured to himself, how big a fool he has been. He thanked the hunter and went back into his country, to claim the crown. But, he was beaten away. He spent the rest of his life as beggar, roaming the jungles.
The moral of the story is pretty obvious. A man without need or wishes(be it in any form), do not deserve a place on this Earth. The world survives by giving and taking things. If the need to give away or the wish to take boils down to zero, there is no purpose for the very existence of this planet.
Wish many things, take what you need, share the rest with your friends. Dream as much as you can, live them out and let others live. A man without dreams, is a bird without direction. He can and will fly, but to nowhere. A man without needs, is just some mass of flesh, with running blood. If you still want to non-materialistic, you better need a psychology doctor.
Life never gives you a second chance. Try grabbing that you can and need, at the first attempt. You may not be offered again. And don't blame life, if you had missed it in the first chance. It was your mistake.
One day a hunter, ventured into the jungles, to find some for for the day. He happened to see the praying sage, sitting cross-legged, under the banyan tree. He kept looking at the bearded sage in awe, for he had seen no such man, devoted to God so much, before. He knew, he cannot go on such missions, because he had a family to feed and two children to be taken care of. He kept staring at the sage, only to wake him up.
The sage opened his eyes slowly, as the screens go off in a theatre. He saw a man standing before him, with a bow and a few arrows. He enquired the hunter, why he had dared the cold and the animals, into such forests. The hunter told him, why he had come, risking his life, to feed his family. The sage smiled a Monalisa smile at the hunter. He felt the hunter was living a miserable life, always running behind his needs. Materialistic World, he did say and started narrating his journey of life.
He had been the richest and the most powerful man in his country. Simply, he was the king of his country. He had lived his life, ruling, giving orders and enjoying all wealth. He had everything he wanted. But sooner, this World, disinterested him. He did fore go all his possessions, power and materials, to reach the abode of God. He also added that it felt too good to be a man of no wishes and needs.
The hunter listened to all of this very sincerely as a student listens to his teacher. He was amazed. A man with no needs? Won't that be wonderful? He need not run being stupid birds to feed his family, he need not risk his life for their well being. He need not be greedy on his neighbours. Too wonderful, isn't it?, he thought. But, a question pooped up in his mind. He was scared to ask it to the sage, for he was intellectual. But he mustered a little courage, to overcome his nervousness and with trembling hands, he asked the sage, "Why are you praying, dear lord?" in a very polite tone. The sage again smiled a Monalisa smile and replied, "To reach God, my son". Now, with much brave, the hunter asked the sage, "Is that not a need?". The age had no answers. He murmured to himself, how big a fool he has been. He thanked the hunter and went back into his country, to claim the crown. But, he was beaten away. He spent the rest of his life as beggar, roaming the jungles.
The moral of the story is pretty obvious. A man without need or wishes(be it in any form), do not deserve a place on this Earth. The world survives by giving and taking things. If the need to give away or the wish to take boils down to zero, there is no purpose for the very existence of this planet.
Wish many things, take what you need, share the rest with your friends. Dream as much as you can, live them out and let others live. A man without dreams, is a bird without direction. He can and will fly, but to nowhere. A man without needs, is just some mass of flesh, with running blood. If you still want to non-materialistic, you better need a psychology doctor.
Life never gives you a second chance. Try grabbing that you can and need, at the first attempt. You may not be offered again. And don't blame life, if you had missed it in the first chance. It was your mistake.
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