Someone asked a question, ‘Give me one life tip that shall make me smart and do things better than others’.
There were loads of answers and different people offered innumerable ‘one’ ideas.
… that itself suggested, there probably never was and never can be a single or ‘one’ idea of smartness and wellness… However, all one idea definitively added some dimension to the overall smartness and betterment of any person…
A simple answer that remained there and was never said was, ‘The single life-tip is – Never ever ask such stupid questions and never accept any answers of such a question’.
There is a story related to this question, which may elaborate the idea behind the answer.
In ancient India, there was a very renowned teacher, who had many disciples. Every year, he would take 100 students and they shall stay in Gurukul for five years and then pass out to enter their normal lives as learned ones. In one of these passing out day, the teacher took a student to his inner room and talked to him. This student was unusually slow in learning and never concentrated when the teacher lectured.
The teacher said, ‘all students are going home after learning but I am sad that I could not make you learn anything. But, I tell you one single line, which I hope you shall always remember. This one line shall make you lead a good life, even when you have not learned anything worthwhile.’
The stupid student said with pride, ‘No doubt sir, I am good enough to remember at least that one line and shall use it as core creed in all my actions in future.
After being assured by the student, the reluctant teacher said, ‘Always follow Big People in life’.
The student was very happy and thought; it was so easy. Everything the ‘big’ people shall do and I only have to follow them. It is something I can do and shall always do. He assured his Guru and took his leave.
As the student journeyed ahead, he saw the road dividing into two and two roads going in opposite directions. He was confused as which road to take. He remembered his teachers saying. In a minute, five people came from one side of the road. They were traders and well off people. Therefore, they were fat with large bellies and wearing shining clothes and jewelries. The student asked them and they confirmed that they were rich traders and after making good money in other state, they were returning home.
The student recalled his Guru’s word and decided to follow them as it was very clear that they were ‘Big’ people.
As he and five traders walked a mile, a group of robbers with arms attacked them. They robbed all their belongings. When they demanded this student to part with his belongings, he had nothing to offer. The robbers beat him well and left him severely crippled.
The student started abusing his teacher. He considered that as he followed his teacher’s advice and followed ‘Big’ people, this troubled happened to him. He vowed never to follow his teaching in life…
Now, what this story teaches is not something, which must ever be said in ‘one line’ or in one ‘Big’ word…!
