Knowledge is often full of competing voices. For a seeker of wisdom, navigating this maze can be difficult.
Who should we listen to?
Why do we remain dissatisfied after reading and listening so much?
How much learning is enough?
The following story invites us to reflect on what wisdom is.
The Scholar on the Boat
There is a parable of a scholar who wishes to cross a river and boards a small boat. He loves quizzing people, asking questions they cannot answer. His conversations always end the same way — the question is his, and the answer is his. He takes pride in winning these verbal contests.
As soon as he steps into the boat, he asks the boatman,
“Do you know Sanskrit?”
The boatman smiles and shakes his head.
“No.”
The scholar frowns. “A quarter of your life has been wasted.”
“Do you know Urdu, Persian or Hindi?”
Again, the boatman shakes his head.
“Then half your life has been wasted.” The scholar continues,
“At least tell me you wish to study now.”
The boatman quietly shakes his head once more.
“Then three quarters of your life is wasted,” declares the scholar.
Meanwhile, dark clouds gather. A fierce storm begins, and the river grows rough.
The boatman looks at the scholar and asks, “Do you know how to swim?”
The scholar shakes his head.
“I have read about swimming, but I do not know how to swim.”
The boatman replies, “Then your whole life is in danger. The boat is sinking.”
With that, he dives into the river.
Wisdom for Our Lives
Life is often compared to an ocean in Eastern traditions. This story reminds us that crossing an ocean requires learning to swim, not merely reading or talking about swimming.
Not talking about truth, but living truth.
Not talking about peace, but becoming peace.
Not talking about justice, but acting justly.
Not talking about love, but embodying love.
Kabir ji expresses the same insight:
बेद कतेब इफतरा भाई दिल का फिकरु न जाइ ॥
O friend, quoting the Vedas and the scriptures in endless arguments cannot remove the restlessness of the heart.
टुकु दमु करारी जउ करहु हाजिर हजूरि खुदाइ ॥१॥
If you steady your mind even for a moment, you will behold the Divine present in all, and there will be no need to argue with anyone.
बंदे खोजु दिल हर रोज ना फिरु परेसानी माहि ॥
O seeker, search your own heart each day, and do not lose yourself in the restlessness of debate.
इह जु दुनीआ सिहरु मेला दसतगीरी नाहि ॥१॥
This world is like a magician’s show, a passing spectacle; empty debates will not lend you a helping hand in the end.
For a seeker of wisdom, this becomes a simple compass. When choosing our teachers, companions, or even reflecting on our own path, the question is not who makes the strongest claim to truth. The deeper question is:
Are we learning to live what we know?
Reflection
What is one teaching from a wisdom tradition that you would like to bring to life in your everyday actions this week?
Sources
- Dharam Di Yatra — Giani Jaswant Singh Parwana
- Kabir Ji, Guru Granth Sahib
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