Three Questions
story
Tulip Series Book VII
Three Questions
The thought came to a certain king that he would never fail
if he knew three things. These three things were: What is the right time to
begin something? Which people should he listen to? What is the most important
thing for him to do?
The king, therefore, sent messengers throughout his kingdom,
promising a large sum of money to anyone who would answer these three
questions.
Many wise men came to the king, but they all answered his
questions differently.
In reply to the first question, some said the king must
prepare a timetable, and then follow it strictly. Only in this way, they said,
he could do everything at its proper time. Others said that it was impossible
to decide in advance the right time for doing something. The king should notice
all that was going on, avoid foolish pleasure, and always do whatever seemed
necessary at that time. Yet others said that the king needed a council of wise
men who would help him act at the proper time.
This was because one man would find it impossible to decide
correctly, without help from others, the right time for every action. But then
others said that there were some things which could be urgent. These things
could not wait for the decision of the council. In order to decide the right
time for doing something, it is necessary to look into the future. And only
magicians could do that. The king, therefore, would have to go to magicians. In
their answers to the second question, some said that the people most necessary
to the king were his councillors; others said, the priests. A few others
chose the doctors. And yet others said that his soldiers were the most necessary. To the third question,
some said science. Others chose fighting, and yet others religious worship. As the answers to his questions were so different,
the king was not satisfied and gave no reward. Instead, he decided to seek the
advice of a certain hermit, who was widely known for his wisdom.
The hermit lived in a wood which he never left. He
saw no one but simple people, and so the king put on ordinary clothes. Before
he reached the hermit's hut, the king left his horse with his bodyguard and
went on alone.
As the king came near the hermit's hut, he saw the hermit
digging the ground in front of his hut. He greeted the king and continued digging.
The hermit was old and weak, and as he worked, he breathed heavily.
The king went up to the hermit and said,
“I have come to you, wise hermit, to ask you to answer three questions: How can I learn to do the right
things at the right time? Who are the people I need most? And what affairs are the most important?”
The
hermit listened to the king, but did not speak. He went on “digging, “You are
tired,” said the king. “Let me take the spade and work in your place.”
“Thanks,” said the hermit, giving the king his spade. Then
he sat down on the ground.
When the king had dug two beds, he stopped and repeated his
questions. The hermit gave no answer, but stood up, stretching out his hand for
the spade, and said, “Now you rest, and let me work.”
But the king did not give him the spade and continued to
dig.
One hour passed, then another. The sun went down behind the
trees, and at last the king stuck the spade into the ground and said, “I came
to you, wise man, for an answer to my questions. If you can give me no answer,
tell me so and I will return home.”
“Here comes someone running,” said the hermit.
The king turned round and saw a bearded man running towards
them. His hands were pressed against his stomach, from which blood was flowing.
When he reached the king, he fainted and fell to the ground. The king and the
hermit removed the man's clothing and found a large wound in his stomach. The
king washed and covered it with his handkerchief, but the blood would not stop flowing. The king re-dressed the wound until at last the
bleeding stopped.
The man felt better and asked for something to drink. The
king brought fresh water and gave it to him. By this time the sun had set and
the air was cool. The king with the hermit's help carried the wounded man into
the hut and laid him on the bed, The man closed his eyes and lay quiet. The king,
tired by his walk and the work he had done, lay down on the floor and slept
through the night. When he awoke, it was several minutes before he could
remember where he was or who the strange bearded man lying on the bed was.
“Forgive me!” said the bearded man in a weak voice, when he
saw that the king was awake.
“I do not know you and have nothing to forgive you for,”
said the king.
“You do not know me, but I know you. I am that enemy of
yours who swore revenge on you, because you put my brother to death and seized
my property. I knew you had gone alone to see that hermit, and I made up my
mind to kill you on your way home, But the day passed and you did not return.
So I left my hiding-place, and I came upon your bodyguard, who recognized me
and wounded me. I escaped from him but I should have died if you had not
dressed my wounds. I wished to kill you, and you have saved my life. Now, if I live, I will serve you as your most faithful servant and will - order my sons
to do the same, Forgive me!”
The king was very happy to have made peace with his enemy so
easily, and to have won him over as a friend. He not only forgave him but said
he would send his servants and his own doctor to look after him, and he
promised to give back the man his property.
Leaving the wounded man, the king went out of the hut and
looked round for the hermit. Before going away he wished once more to get
answers to his questions. The hermit was on his knees sowing seeds in the beds
that had been dug the day before. The king went up to the hermit and said, “For
the last time I beg you to answer my questions, wise man."
“You have already been answered!" said the hermit :
till bending down to the ground and looking up at the king as he stood before him.
“How have I been answered? What do you mean?”
“Do you not see?” replied the hermit. “If you had not pitied
my weakness yesterday and had not dug these beds for me, you would have gone
away. Then that man would have attacked you and you would have wished you had
stayed with me. So the most important time was when you were - digging the
beds. And I was the most important man, and to do me good was your most
important business. Afterwards, when the man ran to us, the most important time
was when you were caring for him, because if you had not dressed his wounds he
would have died without having made peace with you. So he was the most important man, and what you did for
him was your most important business. “Remember then, there is only one time
that is important and that time is ‘Now’. It is the most important time because it is the only time we have any power
to act.
The most necessary person is the person you are with at a
particular moment, for no one knows what will happen in the future and whether
we will meet anyone else. The most important business is to do that person
good, because we were sent into this world for that purpose alone.”
-Leo Tolstoy (retold)
