The Emperor's three questions

[joko]

Dear all,

Happy New Year!

I came across another very interesting story the other day, which I would like to present here to begin our discussion in this new year.

A long time ago, an Emperor was looking to find the best way to rule his country, as well as to handle his practical daily life. He wanted to seek wisdom and philsophy for life; and was not satisfied with the religion and spiritual system, and the sayings of wise men in his country. After a while, he concluded then to have the wisdom based on his own life experience.

To make the long story short, the Emperor was convinced that after all he needed only to find the answers to his three basic questions. Once he knew the right answers for these three questions, he then could use them as guidance for all practical things he had to do to fulfill his duty.

The three questions were:

1. When is the right time?
2. Who are the right persons he should listen to and rely to?
3. What is the most important thing to do?

The Emperor thought that if he knew the answers to those three questions, then he would never fail in anything he might undertake.

Having thought deeply about this, the Emperor then made an announcement that he would give great reward to any one in his kingdom who could teach him what was the right time for every action, and who were the most necessary people, and how he might know what was the most important thing to do.

Sure many people came to the Emperor and gave their answers, but they all answered differently. None of the answers satisfied the Emperor, until finally he got a breath taking experience with a hermit.

Now, would you please take a moment to consider the above three questions, and then perhaps you were kind enough to share your opinion? What were the answers to the three questions?

Thank you,
Joko

[barrys]

Joko,

My first thoughts

1. Now.
2. Myself.
3. Be doing the right/most skillful thing now.

Are you going to be in Costa Rica, my brother?

With metta,

Barry

[Dorin]

Nice answers, Barry.

Answer 3: every thing you do (when you're doing it).


Hope that made sense...

Dorin

[cnholmes]

I would say that if he's looking for one single answer, he's already got it wrong.

1. When is the right time?

Timing is a skill, not a single answer. Sometimes you can act beforehand, sometimes immediately and sometimes it is better to wait your moment. While you're waiting your moment, gather information and prepare.

2. Who are the right persons he should listen to and rely to?

When looking for advice, find the people who have had real experience of the matter in question. Always consider their motives in what they're telling you.

3. What is the most important thing to do?

Be good to people, but don't be conned. What goes around comes around.

[8nsteen8]

-

Dear All,

From my experience at work the right things always seem to be done in right time and in the right way, when i am just doing the things that comes my way and i dont think about why, how, when.

Sincerely,
Niklas

[sean]

1) never
2) no one
3) nothing



Hope you all had wonderful holidays!

Take care,
Sean

[Guest]

Hello and happy new year to everyone

1. When is the right time?
2. Who are the right persons he should listen to and rely to?
3. What is the most important thing to do?

I thought number one would be the here and now as this is the only time you can really act(something which I am finally taking on board in my mind-this I now know is a very, very fundamental principle to live by).
Number three I think is to always be kind and generous to the people around you where ever you may be.
Number two I think again the people around you, but then again it is a matter of trust

P.S. Chris did you not get my PM I sent it a couple weeks ago.

[anietog]

Happy new year to all.

I'm on with Barry's ones:

1. Now
2. Myself
3. What i'm doing in that minute with full concentration


Now. My take on it, is that from the cognitive point of view is easy to understand so the emperor should be happy to know the answers, but to do it is a different story. To do it so is as simple as complicate it

cheers

[joko]

Dear everyone,

Thank you all for your replies.
(Hi Barry, I'd love to go to the Blue Mountain, however, I can not make it this year. Perhaps another time).

I am happy to read the answers you have given. It has shown that what Sifu taught us did improve our way of thinking.
Now, please find out the answers, as was told in the story. It was written by Leo Tolstoy.

http://www.online-literature.com/tolstoy/2736/

Three Questions

It once occurred to a certain king, that if he always knew the right time to begin everything; if he knew who were the right people to listen to, and whom to avoid; and, above all, if he always knew what was the most important thing to do, he would never fail in anything he might undertake.

And this thought having occurred to him, he had it proclaimed
throughout his kingdom that he would give a great reward to any one who would teach him what was the right time for every action, and who were the most necessary people, and how he might know what was the most important thing to do.

And learned men came to the King, but they all answered his
questions differently.

In reply to the first question, some said that to know the right
time for every action, one must draw up in advance, a table of days, months and years, and must live strictly according to it. Only thus, said they, could everything be done at its proper time.
Others declared that it was impossible to decide beforehand the right time for every action; but that, not letting oneself be
absorbed in idle pastimes, one should always attend to all that was going on, and then do what was most needful. Others, again, said that however attentive the King might be to what was going on, it was impossible for one man to decide correctly the right time for every action, but that he should have a Council of wise men, who would help him to fix the proper time for everything.

But then again others said there were some things which could not wait to be laid before a Council, but about which one had at once to decide whether to undertake them or not. But in order to decide that, one must know beforehand what was going to happen. It is only magicians who know that; and, therefore, in order to know the right time for every action, one must consult magicians.

Equally various were the answers to the second question. Some said, the people the King most needed were his councilors; others, the priests; others, the doctors; while some said the warriors were the most necessary.

To the third question, as to what was the most important occupation: some replied that the most important thing in the world was science.
Others said it was skill in warfare; and others, again, that it was religious worship.

All the answers being different, the King agreed with none of them, and gave the reward to none. But still wishing to find the right answers to his questions, he decided to consult a hermit, widely renowned for his wisdom.

The hermit lived in a wood which he never quitted, and he received none but common folk. So the King put on simple clothes, and before reaching the hermit's cell dismounted from his horse, and, leaving his body-guard behind, went on alone.

When the King approached, the hermit was digging the ground in front of his hut. Seeing the King, he greeted him and went on digging.
The hermit was frail and weak, and each time he stuck his spade into the ground and turned a little earth, he breathed heavily.

The King went up to him and said: "I have come to you, wise hermit, to ask you to answer three questions: How can I learn to do the right thing at the right time? Who are the people I most need, and to whom should I, therefore, pay more attention than to the rest? And, what affairs are the most important, and need my first attention?"

The hermit listened to the King, but answered nothing. He just spat on his hand and recommenced digging.

"You are tired," said the King, "let me take the spade and work a while for you."

"Thanks!" said the hermit, and, giving the spade to the King, he sat down on the ground.

When he had dug two beds, the King stopped and repeated his
questions. The hermit again gave no answer, but rose, stretched out his hand for the spade, and said: "Now rest awhile-and let me work a bit."

But the King did not give him the spade, and continued to dig. One hour passed, and another. The sun began to sink behind the trees, and the King at last 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 none, tell me so, and I will return home."

"Here comes some one running," said the hermit, "let us see who it is."

The King turned round, and saw a bearded man come running out of the wood. The man held his hands pressed against his stomach, and blood was flowing from under them. When he reached the King, he fell fainting on the ground moaning feebly. The King and the hermit unfastened the man's clothing. There was a large wound in his stomach. The King washed it as best he could, and bandaged it with his handkerchief and with a towel the hermit had. But the blood would not stop flowing, and the King again and again removed the bandage soaked with warm blood, and washed and rebandaged the wound.
When at last the blood ceased flowing, the man revived and asked for something to drink. The King brought fresh water and gave it to him. Meanwhile the sun had set, and it had become cool. So the King, with the hermit's help, carried the wounded man into the hut and laid him on the bed. Lying on the bed the man closed his eyes and was quiet; but the King was so tired with his walk and with the work he had done, that he crouched down on the threshold, and also fell asleep--so soundly that he slept all through the short summer night. When he awoke in the morning, it was long before he could remember where he was, or who was the strange bearded man lying on the bed and gazing intently at him with shining eyes.

"Forgive me!" said the bearded man in a weak voice, when he saw that the King was awake and was looking at him.

"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 to revenge himself on you, because you executed his brother and seized his property. I knew you had gone alone to see the hermit, and I resolved to kill you on your way back. But the day passed and you did not return. So I came out from my ambush to find you, and I came upon your bodyguard, and they recognized me, and wounded me. I escaped from them, but should have bled to death had you not dressed my wound. I wished to kill you, and you have saved
my life. Now, if I live, and if you wish it, I will serve you as your most faithful slave, and will bid my sons do the same. Forgive me!"

The King was very glad to have made peace with his enemy so easily, and to have gained him for a friend, and he not only forgave him, but said he would send his servants and his own physician to attend him, and promised to restore his property.

Having taken leave of the wounded man, the King went out into the porch and looked around for the hermit. Before going away he wished once more to beg an answer to the questions he had put. The hermit was outside, on his knees, sowing seeds in the beds that had been dug the day before.

The King approached him, and said: "For the last time, I pray you to answer my questions, wise man."

"You have already been answered!" said the hermit, still crouchinon his thin legs, and looking up at the King, who stood before him.

"How answered? What do you mean?" asked the King.

"Do you not see," replied the hermit. "If you had not pitied my
weakness yesterday, and had not dug those beds for me, but had gone your way, that man would have attacked you, and you would have repented of not having 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 that man ran to us, the most important time was when you were attending to him, for if you had not bound up 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--
Now! It is the most important time because it is the only time when we have any power. The most necessary man is he with whom you are, for no man knows whether he will ever have dealings with any one else: and the most important affair is, to do him good, because for that purpose alone was man sent into this life!"

I hope you enjoy the story as much as I do.

Joko

[joko]

The three questions were:

1. When is the right time?
2. Who are the right persons he should listen to and rely to?
3. What is the most important thing to do?

According to the story, the answers given by the hermit were:

1. Now
2. Those who are with you at the moment
3. Do good to those who are with you.

(Now! It is the most important time because it is the only time when we have any power. The most necessary man is he with whom you are, for no man knows whether he will ever have dealings with any one else: and the most important affair is, to do him good, because for that purpose alone was man sent into this life!")

Interesting, isn't it?

Most of us agreed that 'Now' is the most important time. It is in line with our way of life. Not to be burdened by the past, and not to worry about the future. Enjoy the present moment.

Answer no.2 is valid, for practically all occasions. We should give our full attention to a person who is with us at any given time. In business, it is clear. The person with us is usually our customer, our partner, our boss, etc. Even if the person is the enemy, we should gibe our full attention. It is applicable also in our practice, or in combat, or in sparring!

Most of the time, we are alone, by ourselves. And who is the person who is with me when I am alone? Me! That's the answer given first by Barry, which we agree. Yes, we should give attention to ourselves. It is the journey to find who we are.

And answer number 3? It's well known: Avoid evil, do good, and purify your mind.

Best regards,
Joko

[cnholmes]

So why do we set Aims and Objectives?

[Ray]

My first thoughts:

1. Now
2. Your "Heart"
3. The task in front of you.

Just read the story:

Ah...profound.

^_^