As promised to a friend, this is a story which I have read and heard before.
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A intellectual, who had spent his years in studies of various fields, collected alot of Doctorates and Masters during those years.
One day, he decided to head back to see his mother and had to cross a river. The only mode of transportation was that of a boatman to row him across.
Once the price was agreeable, the boatman set off, rowing those oars with his muscular hands under the hot sun.
Feeling a little bored, the intellectual asked the boat man if he ever went to school before.
'No... my family was too poor and I started working, following my father and grandfather's footsteps rowing the boat.'
'Then you have missed out many fine things in life, Da Shu (Uncle); for I have gone through many years in college and have made a name in the academic field'
The boatman kept silent and sensing such mood, the intellectual kept quiet.
After a long while, the boatman broke the silence.
'Oh, wise one, I like to ask you something'
'Go ahead, I am more than willing to share my knowledge'
'Wise one, do you know how to swim?'
'Ah! Forgive me, I spent all my time on books and have not gone to learn such skills'
'Then Wise one, all your doctorates and degrees are of no use then?! For I have grave news, the boat have sprung a leak. I may not have been to school but then I have the skill to keep myself alive.
Forgive me that I cannot teach you this right now. Goodbye!'
Saying this, the boatman jumped off leaving the intellectual to a watery death.
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3 comments:
It is true that people with a list of "degrees" may not necessarily learnt what it takes to be a "good" person. Often their perception becomes markedly deluded by conceit.
I can always recall the cat-lady, elderly, overweight, legs severely bowed out from degenerated knee joints, but yet she was all smiles as she fed her "babies" in a backlane. How she must have cried when her "babies" were culled during the SARS fear.
These images of compassion are deeply etched in my memory.
But look at the way we are being 'run'... all things done are based on the piece of paper *pang sai chua* as termed by someone close to me.
Even the recent forum posts seem to jump on the Malay gal who initally decided on some neighbourhood school and the final outcome... you read and decide.
No doubt these so-called intellects can score 'A's and what-nots; but the final thing in life, as mentioned by Lord Buddha, is to experience it yourself.
I remember someone told the story of a Zen Master who visited a buddhist centre in the UK. The committee members thought they were rather proud with their big collection of books but the Master said...trash trash trash.
Theoretical knowledge is nothing without experiential knowledge.
In Singapore, going to an elite school is a form of conditioning. Ajahn Brahm said that in an experiment in Australia where students were randomly alloted classes from A downwards, rather then be based on academic achievement, showed that students (from a lower achievement class) did well in a A class,whereas a high achiever did poorly in a C class. This is partly also due to the perception of teachers based on A, B or C class. Often we get ourselves fitted into labels. We need a lot of contemplation and insight to get out of this "matrix" of conditioning.
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