Weekend Story- The Present Moment

A king once believed that if he knew the answers to three critical questions, he would be the finest ruler there ever was. The three questions he had were:

1. Who are the most important people to be with?
2. What is the most important thing to do?
3. When is the best time to do the most important thing?

The King sought answers from his advisors, but none could provide satisfactory responses. Finally, a minister suggested meeting a wise hermit who lived in the forest for guidance. Disguised as a commoner, the King ventured into the forest to meet the hermit. As he neared the hermit’s hut, the King asked his knights to stay back and approached the hermit’s dwelling alone.
 
Upon reaching the hermit’s compound, the King found the hermit digging in his backyard. The hermit greeted the King but kept digging. The King introduced himself and sought answers to his three questions. The hermit, silent but attentive, continued to work. Observing the frail hermit’s struggle, the King offered to help. Grateful, the hermit accepted the offer. 
 
After digging for some time, the King repeated his request for answers to the three questions, but the hermit remained silent. Exasperated at the hermit’s silence, the King said, “I came to you for answers, wise man. If you are unable to help me, I will return home.”
 
Just then, a man with a deep stomach wound, bleeding profusely, staggered into the compound and collapsed at the King’s feet.
 
The King promptly picked the injured man up and carried him to a nearby freshwater brook. He washed the man’s stomach wound and bandaged it. Then, he carried the man back to the hermit’s hut. 
 
The hermit suggested that the able-bodied King stay back at the hut in case the wounded man required any help during the night. The King agreed and stayed back for the night. The wounded man slept peacefully through the night while the King and the hermit also slept on the ground nearby, keeping a close watch on him.
 
Having slept peacefully through the night, the wounded man woke up in the morning.
 
“Forgive me,” he said to the King.
 
Intrigued, the King asked, “You don’t know who I am; you have done nothing wrong. Why do I need to forgive you?“
 
“Oh, but I do,” he said. “I know you are the King, and you were my enemy. One year back, you killed my brother and took my land. I had sworn to take revenge. I got to know that you were visiting the hermit today, and I thought there was no better place and time to kill you than on this forest trail. I waited just beyond the trail outside the hermit’s hut, but you did not come out for many hours. So, I left my hideout to locate and kill you. Unfortunately, your guards recognized me and accosted me. I got injured in a scuffle but managed to escape them. I would have certainly bled to death had you not cared for me. I came into the forest hoping to kill you, and you have saved my life. If I recover, I shall gladly serve you for the rest of my life.”
 
The King was overjoyed to have reconciled with a potential enemy. He immediately forgave the wounded man and promised to return his land. The King then called for his knights to carry the man back to his castle so he could be cared for by the royal doctor.
 
Once the wounded man left, the King asked the hermit again for answers to his questions.
 
“Haven’t your questions been answered already?” the hermit asked, smiling.
 
“But how?” the King asked, confused.
 
“Think back,” the hermit said wisely, “If you had not offered to help me dig my backyard and instead walked back, the man who passed by earlier would have ambushed and killed you. Therefore, the most important time was when you were helping me; the most important person you were with was me, and the most important thing you were doing was assisting me.
 
Later, when the wounded man arrived, the most important thing to do was to care for him. If you had not tended to his wounds, he would have perished without making peace with you. Therefore, the most important person was that wounded man, and helping him was the most important thing for you to do. The right time was when you were helping him when he needed your help most.
 
We can only look back on the past and wish we had done something differently. The future, we can only imagine. Therefore, the most important time is always the present moment. It is the most important because it is the only time we can control. The most important person is always the one you are with in the present moment, and the most important thing to do is what you do to help others.”