title  |  text   

A king realized that if he knew the right time to act, the people who were most needed, and the most important thing to do, he would never fail.

He went to a wise man for advice. He was dressed in plain clothes and before reaching the destination, he got off his horse, left his bodyguards behind, and went alone.

The sage was digging the ground in front of his hut. The king came and said:

I came here because I need to answer three questions:

How can I learn to do the right thing at the right time?

Who are the people to whom I must pay more attention?

What matters should I prioritize?

The wise man did not respond and kept digging. He was weak and breathed deeply with each stroke.

The king offered to dig for him and prepared two extensive planting. Without receiving any response to his questions near the end of the afternoon, he said:

I came here for answers. If you cannot give me any, then tell me and I leave.

Then a bearded man rushed out of the forest. He was wounded and fell unconscious, moaning softly.

The king and the sage rescued the man. There was a large wound on his body. The king washed it and covered it with his handkerchief and a towel from the sage.

The blood continued to flow. Often the king washed and covered the wound.

Finally, the bleeding stopped. The man was taken to bed and fell asleep. The evening came. The king sat at the entrance of the hut, and tired, fell asleep.

Upon awakening the next morning, it took him a while to realize where I was. He looked inside. The wounded man looked at him and asked for forgiveness.

I have nothing to forgive you, said the king. I don't even know you.

But I know you. You arrested my brother and I vowed to end your life. When I heard that you were coming here, I also came.

I waited in the woods to kill you from behind.

But you did not come back. I left my ambush and your bodyguards saw me. They were the ones who hurt me.

I ran away from them. I would have bled to death if you had not rescued me.

Majesty! If I survive, I will be the most ardent of your servants.

The king was pleased to have achieved peace with his enemy so easily. He said to the man that he would send his doctor to see him.

He got up and went to the sage, who was crouching, planting in the seed dug the day before.

So, will you answer my questions?

Looking up, the sage replied:

You already have all the answers.

And to the king's question, he said:

If your majesty had not been compassionate for my weakness yesterday and dug these plantings for me, when going back, you would have been attacked by the man.

You would thus have regretted not having stayed with me. Therefore, the most important time was when digging the planting.

I was the most important man. To do me a favor was the most important.

Then, when the assassin came running, the most important time was when you took care of him. If you had not taken care of his wound, he would have died without being at peace with himself.

Therefore, he was the most important man. What was done for him was the most important.

So, there is only one important time: now.

The most necessary man is the one you are with, because nobody knows if you will have the opportunity to deal with anyone else.

The most important thing is to do good for the one with whom you are, because that is the great purpose of life.

*   *   *

The time to act is now. The place where you are is the most suitable, and the people you are with are the ideal ones for your life and growth.

Think about it!

 

Spiritist Moment Team, based on chapter Three questions,
by Leon Tolstoy in The book of virtues, by William J. Bennett, vol.
II, published in Brazil by Nova Fronteira.
July 24.2012.