The Scholar and the Boatman

I share the story of the scholar and the boatman; a simple story to extract wisdom from.

1. Never think yourself above anyone else.
2. There is a difference between theory and experience.
3. Talkers talk, Doers do.

Once a scholar was being ferried across a river by a poor boatman. During the boat-ride, they spent a while in conversation. The scholar named a number of holy texts and asked the boatman if he had studied them. When the boatman replied in the negative, the scholar remarked, “You have wasted half your life.”

As this discussion was going on, the boat sprang a leak and water rapidly entered it through the crevices. Seeing this, the boatman asked the scholar, “Sir, can you swim?” The scholar replied, “I have read several books on swimming and gathered a lot of information on it, but I cannot swim.” The boatman then commented, “Then your entire life has gone to waste. The boat is about to sink!”

The scholar’s theoretical knowledge was of no use to him. Similarly, to be able to cross this vast ocean of worldly life and enjoy happiness through it, close the book and experience LIFE.

*image: Christopher Hughes painting.

Daisy Says: In theory everything works until theory is applied a new reference point is established.