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Sitaram · Site Admin Joined: 14 Sep 2005 Posts: 1079

This is a story my grandfather told me when I was a kid. It may be from
one of the Upanishads, or from Kathasagara or may just be a folk tale.
But it has remained with me through my life. Here goes ...

Once upon a time there lived a poor old man in a village. He had just one
son whom he wanted to educate and make a learned man. So one day he
called his son, gave him the money that he had saved, and told him to go
to Kashi and learn from a guru. The son went. A few years passed. One
day the son came back for a visit. The father was very happy. After they
were alone, he asked his son "Tell me, my son, what did you learn in
Kashi?" The son told him that he had learnt many vidyas, proudly telling
his father about all the things he had learnt. The father then asked
whether he had understood everything and had any confusions. The son
told he had understood everything and had no confusions. The father
became very thoughtful. After some time he told "Son, I dont think you
have really learnt anything. Of course you have memorized many things,
but your learning process has not started yet. Go back and continue your
education." The son was sad, and after a few days he went back. Again,
many years passed...

When the son returned next time, the father asked the same question
again. The son became a little perplexed. He told he was not sure. More
he learnt less he seemed to know. The answers his guru gave to his
questions he couldnot fully understand. It was all so confusing ... The
father told him not to be discouraged, go back and keep learning.

When the son returned for a third time, after an interval longer than the
previous ones, he was really disturbed. He told his father he had learnt
everything his guru had to teach him, understood every answer his guru
gave and still he was no closer to the truth than before. Every answer
seemed to lead to a thousand new questions. There was so much to
know.... so many confusions to clear.. so little time...

His father smiled, embraced him, and told "Son, you are a learned man
now. Probably you dont even need a guru now. This jijnasa, the hunger
for knowledge, and the lack of ahankar, which gives rise to fixed ideas, is
what makes a person learned. I dont have to direct you any more. You
are on your own. Be here and live a grihastha life if you want, go and
learn some more if you want... I am satisfied."

Whenever I think I know a lot, whenever ahankar raises its head in me, I
remember the story.

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