An Indian Folklore
A traveller saw a man sitting beside a lake with his fishing rod dipped in the water. The traveller went near him and asked, “Gentleman, will you kindly tell me which is the way to the village called Bhimpur?”
The fishing man, far from replying, did not even look at the traveller.
After waiting for a while, the traveler said once again, “Gentleman, did you hear me? Which is the way to Bhimpur? I am a stranger to the land.”
Even then the fishing-man made no reply. Disgusted, the traveller moved away, cursing the man. But he was already quite tired. Hence, he sat down on a slab of a stone a few yards away.
After five minutes he saw a young ascetic approaching the fishing-man.
The ascetic asked the fishing-man, “Sir, which is the way to village Bhimpur?”
The traveller was eager to hear what the fishing-man would say so that he could benefit by the answer too.
But the fishing-man paid no heed to the ascetic either. The ascetic repeated his question, but to no avail.
The traveller was sure that the ascetic would grow angry and curse the rude fishing-man. But nothing like that happened. To his great surprise the traveller saw the ascetic prostrating himself to the angler and then quietly resuming his journey.
Once his spell of surprise was over, the traveller ran to catch up with the ascetic.
The traveller asked, “Holy man, will you please reveal to me the reason for your showing such respect to the fishing-man? Wasn’t he extremely rude?”
The ascetic replied, “Please don’t speak ill of my guru!”
The traveller now was utterly puzzled. He said, “Guru? Is the fishing-man your guru?”
“It is so. He taught me concentration. Didn’t you see how he remained totally undistributed by my question? Not only his look, but his mind was concentrated on his goal alone. I wish I could concentrate on God in the same manner!” explained the ascetic.
For a true spiritual aspirant every experience is a chance to create meaning, every life situation comes as an opportunity to progress and evolve.