Do
you ever wish you knew
"Who,
What & When" was most important?
the three answers
One
day an emperor decided that if he knew the answers to three questions, he would always know what to do, no matter what.
So he made an announcement throughout his kingdom that if anyone could answer his three questions, he would give them a big reward. |
These were the questions: Who
are the most important people?
What
is the most important thing?
When
is the best time to do things?
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The
emperor received many answers, but none satisfied him. Finally,
he decided to travel up the mountain to visit a hermit who
lived at the top. Perhaps he would know the answers.
When
he reached the hermit, he asked his three questions.
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The
hermit, who was digging in his garden, listened attentively and
then returned to his digging without saying a word.
As
the hermit continued digging, the emperor noticed how tired the
old man seemed. "Here," he said, "give me the spade. I'll dig,
and
you can rest for awhile." So the hermit rested while the emperor
dug.
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After
digging for several hours, the emperor was very tired.
He
put down the spade and said, "If you can't answer my questions,
that's
all right. Just tell me, and I'll take my leave."
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"Do
you hear someone running?" asked the hermit suddenly,
pointing
to the edge of the woods. And sure enough, a man came tumbling out of the woods, clutching his stomach. He collapsed as the hermit and the emperor reached him. Opening the man's shirt, they saw that he had a deep cut. The emperor cleaned the wound, using his own shirt to bind it. Regaining consciousness,
the
man aksed for water. The emperor hurried to a nearby stream
and
brought him some. The man drank gratefully, then slept.
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The
hermit and the emperor carried the man into the hut and
lay him on the hermit's bed. By this time,
the
emperor too, was exhausted and he soon fell asleep.
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The
next morning when the emperor awoke, he saw the wounded man
standing
there, staring down at him. "Forgive me," the man whispered.
"Forgive
you?" said the emperor, sitting up, wide awake.
"What
have you done that needs my forgiveness?"
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"You
do not know me, your majesty, but I have thought of you
as
my sworn enemy. During the last war you killed my brother and
took
away my lands. And indeed, yesterday I was lying in ambush, waiting
for you to come back down the mountain so that I could kill you.
I
waited a long time, but for some reason, you didn't return.
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"So
I left my hiding place to find you. Instead, your attendants
found
me, and recognizing me, attacked, giving me a painful wound.
I
fled, but if you hadn't helped me when you did,
I
surely would have died. I had planned to kill you.
Instead,
you saved my life! I am ashamed
and
very grateful. Please forgive me."
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The
emperor was astonished.
"I
am glad," he said, "that your hatred has ended.
I
am sorry too, now that I have heard your story, for the pain
I
have clearly caused you. War is terrible. I forgive you, and
I restore your lands. Let us be friends from this time on."
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After
instructing his attendants to take the man safely home, the
emperor turned once again to the hermit.
"I
must leave now," he said. "I shall travel everywhere seeking answers
to
my three questions. I hope someday I can find them. Farewell."
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The
hermit laughed and said,
"Your
questions are already answered, your majesty."
"What
do you mean?" exclaimed the emperor in surprise.
The
hermit explained. "If you had not helped me dig my garden
yesterday,
delaying your return, you would have been attacked on your way home.
Therefore
the most important time for you was the time you were digging in my
garden.
The most important person was myself, the person you were with,
and
the most important pursuit was simply to help me.
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"Later,
when the wounded man came, the most important time was
the
time you spent tending his wound, for otherwise he would have died,
and
you would have lost forever the opportunity for forgiveness
and
friendship. At that moment he was the most important
person,
and the most important pursuit was tending his wound.
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"The
present moment is the only moment," said the hermit.
"The
most important person is always the person you are with.
And
the most important pursuit is making the person standing at your side happy.
What
could be simpler or more important?"
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The
emperor bowed in gratitude to the old hermit and left in peace.
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