A saint used to sit under a tree and meditate. Soon, he attracted all types of crowds. He was unaware of, and least interested in, why people were sitting in front of him.
People from different walks of life gathered daily in front
of him. The saint ignored them. As the saint did not speak, some left, while
some continued to come. New people arrived, and they too eventually left.
Among them were a miser, a thief, a prostitute, a secret
lover, a young student, a Brahmachari, a housewife, and a guard. As they had
nothing much to do in the afternoon, they came and sat in front of the saint
daily, hoping to hear something from him that would change their lives.
Finally, one evening, the saint spoke a few words: “I am
leaving. Go and do your work enthusiastically.”
Each one was happy to hear what the saint had to say. They
thought it was a blessing for them.
The miser happily went and continued with his life, as he
thought it was a stamp of approval. The thief went about his job even more
confidently. So did the prostitute. The secret lover saw this as permission for
his lifestyle. The young student decided to work hard. The Brahmachari decided
to meditate and think. The housewife decided to take more care of her family,
and the guard decided never to sleep again during his work.
We often interpret words according to what we already believe or desire. Instead of seeking confirmation for our own thoughts, we should listen with an open mind and reflect carefully before deciding what they truly mean.