“Swamiji, what is the purpose of life?” Mani asked the person sitting alone, meditating, in a ruined temple on the outskirts of the village.
“What
is your age, son?” replied Swamiji with a question.
“You,
of all people, would definitely know that age doesn’t matter in such issues,”
said Mani bowing to him respectfully.
“I do
know that, child. I’m trying to find the reason behind your question. Now, tell
me what made you ask this question, curiosity or maturity?”
“Does
it matter, Swamiji?” said Mani with a tinge of impatience in his voice.
“Ah,
there it is! I got my answer. A good doctor studies his patients and prescribes
the medicine. Similarly, a good teacher answers the question in a way that the
student could comprehend it. One cannot explain something the same way to a
toddler and an adult. I have to know whether you are a toddler or an adult.”
Mani
shifted restlessly.
“Before
I answer your question, I want you to answer a question of mine. Tell me what
you understand by the word HSISBK.”
Mani
looked baffled. He racked his brain for some time and answered “Swamiji, please
give me some more information. There is no such word. Is it a name of an
institution? Is it a medical term? Or an engineering one? Is it an acronym or
mnemonic?”
Swamiji
said “O curious one, I gave you something to look for. I should do no more.
Come meet me when you have the answer.”
* * *
“Swamiji,
it’s been a week. I still couldn’t find an answer to your question,” said Mani
with a dull voice.
“I
thought Google has an answer for everything. Don’t worry, I’ll ask you a
question that you can answer. If I agreed to answer only one question, what
will you choose, your question or mine?” said Swamiji.
Mani
decided immediately, but pretended to think for a while and answered, “I’d
choose my question.”
“And
why is that?”
“I know
you are testing if I could be distracted from my path i.e. my reason to come to
you.”
“I’m
doing no such thing, child. Finding an answer to my question is the answer to
your question. Bear with me. Can you analyze and interpret the deeper meaning
of said word?”
Mani
thought for some time and answered uncertainly “hypocrites' sympathy is back?”
Swamiji,
with a smile, said “the word doesn’t have a meaning initially, just like human
life. But we try to find a meaning for it. Whether it is correct or not is
irrelevant. Some people succeed in their endeavor, like you, while some give
up. Beware, you succeed only when you are convinced of your meaning. This is
the real message behind the word, the purpose of life.”
Mani
bowed and left without saying anything.
As Mani
left, the person sitting in the ruined temple thought, “a curious one, indeed.”
