The Scholar and the Ferryman

There was once a proud scholar. He knew many books. He thought people who did manual work were not smart. He did not respect farmers, potters, or fishermen.

One day, he wanted to cross a big river. He waited for a boat. A ferryman came and took him across.

As they sailed, the scholar asked, ‘Do you know the shastras?’

The ferryman said, ‘No, sir. I work all day.’

The scholar laughed. ‘Then half your life is wasted!’ he said.

After some time, the scholar asked, ‘Do you know the puranas?’

The ferryman shook his head. ‘No, sir. I have no time to read.’

The scholar smirked. ‘Then three-fourths of your life is wasted!’

The boat moved slowly. The scholar asked, ‘Can you read at all?’

The ferryman said, ‘No, sir. I never learned.’

The scholar sighed. ‘Then you are only ten percent alive!’

Just then, dark clouds filled the sky. The river became wild. Strong waves hit the boat. Water came inside!

The ferryman looked at the scholar. ‘Sir, do you know how to swim?’

The scholar’s face turned white. ‘N-no!’ he stammered.

The ferryman smiled. ‘Then your whole life is wasted!’

The ferryman jumped into the water and swam to safety. The scholar sat in the sinking boat, wishing he had learned something practical too.

Lessons:

1. Knowledge from books is important, but practical skills are equally valuable. Looking down on others because of their work is wrong. Everyone has something useful to offer.
2. Focusing only on book knowledge is not enough. True wisdom comes from both learning and real-life experience.

Ramaswamy Sastry and Vighnesh Ghanapaathi