The Guru, the People and the Lesson

A long time ago there lived in a village a self-proclaimed “holy man” (guru). One day the people of the village counseled with each other and came to the consensus that they had never seen this “holy man” do anything that was actually beneficial to the people. Yet the people had been giving him room and board (as was the custom for holy men) for some time now, without him apparently benefiting them in anyway,.

So one day the people made a plan to discover whether the “holy man” was really who he said he was. Surely we can gain some knowledge from him they reasoned and so asked him to speak to them.

The whole village turned out for the occasion - not a sole was missing. The ‘holy man’ stood before the village people and asked them:

“Oh people do you know what I am about to say to you today?”

The people responded:

“No we do not know what you are about to say to us?”

The “holy man” then said:

“In that case you are too ignorant for me to speak to.”

With this he left and went back to his illustrious lodging provided by the people.

The people, though enraged were not to be defeated and set another appointment.

Again, the “holy man” arrived on time and stood before the people. The crowd was silent. The “holy man” asked the same question as before:

“Oh people do you know what I am about to say to you today?”

The people with an air of confidence replied:

“Yes, we know what you are about to say”

“Well in that case said the ‘holy man” there is no need for me to speak if you already know.”

With this he left and and went home to enjoy a feast supplied by the people.

The village people were persistent and invited him back yet another time. Again the “holy man” stood before the crowd and uttered the infamous words:

“Oh people do you know what I am about to say to you today?”

With a shout of expectant triumph, they replied:

“Some of us do and some of us don’t”,

“Well said the “holy man” in that case, let those of you who know tell those of you who don’t know. With this he left and went back to enjoy the home and life that the people had created for him.