Three Most Important Questions
A king wished to know the answers to three questions:
Who is the most important person?
What is the most important thing?
When is the most important time?
He felt that if he knew the answers, he would have the key to a more effective and successful life as a king. But no one could ever answer the questions to the king’s satisfaction. Eventually, acting upon his Prime Minister’s advice, the king dressed himself in plain clothes and went to visit a hermit who was known for his wisdom. But the hermit did not answer the king’s questions. Seeing the frailty of the hermit, the king began to help him with his activities, and so they worked in silence.
It happened that nearby, someone suffered an accident. At once the king and the hermit began to work together to help the injured man. When the man was strong enough, he begged the king’s forgiveness, for he had come intending to kill the king, who had wronged one of his family members in the past. They forgave each other and became friends.
When the king was about to leave, he asked the hermit once more to answer his questions. The hermit then explained to the king:
1. Yesterday, when you saw me, then the most important person was obviously me as you had taken the trouble to disguise yourself and come all this way to find me.
2. Your purpose was to come here to get the answers to your questions, so the most important thing was to be with me and to help me with my work.
3. The most important time was the time you were with me.
Don’t forget that due to your remaining here, you escaped being killed by your enemy.
1. Then, when the man was injured, he became the most important person because both of us dropped what we were doing to help him.
2. The most important thing then was to attend to his injury.
3. The most important time was the time we helped him.
1. Now the most important person must be you because all your people and family members are waiting for you to come back to the palace.
2. The most important thing is to go home.
3. The most important time is now.
In conclusion, there is no absolute importance relating to who, what and when. Relatively speaking,
1. The most important person is the one next to you.
2. The most important thing to do is to meet that person’s needs.
3. The most important time is now.
So don’t waste your effort needlessly. Treasure the here and now.
A king wished to know the answers to three questions:
Who is the most important person?
What is the most important thing?
When is the most important time?
He felt that if he knew the answers, he would have the key to a more effective and successful life as a king. But no one could ever answer the questions to the king’s satisfaction. Eventually, acting upon his Prime Minister’s advice, the king dressed himself in plain clothes and went to visit a hermit who was known for his wisdom. But the hermit did not answer the king’s questions. Seeing the frailty of the hermit, the king began to help him with his activities, and so they worked in silence.
It happened that nearby, someone suffered an accident. At once the king and the hermit began to work together to help the injured man. When the man was strong enough, he begged the king’s forgiveness, for he had come intending to kill the king, who had wronged one of his family members in the past. They forgave each other and became friends.
When the king was about to leave, he asked the hermit once more to answer his questions. The hermit then explained to the king:
1. Yesterday, when you saw me, then the most important person was obviously me as you had taken the trouble to disguise yourself and come all this way to find me.
2. Your purpose was to come here to get the answers to your questions, so the most important thing was to be with me and to help me with my work.
3. The most important time was the time you were with me.
Don’t forget that due to your remaining here, you escaped being killed by your enemy.
1. Then, when the man was injured, he became the most important person because both of us dropped what we were doing to help him.
2. The most important thing then was to attend to his injury.
3. The most important time was the time we helped him.
1. Now the most important person must be you because all your people and family members are waiting for you to come back to the palace.
2. The most important thing is to go home.
3. The most important time is now.
In conclusion, there is no absolute importance relating to who, what and when. Relatively speaking,
1. The most important person is the one next to you.
2. The most important thing to do is to meet that person’s needs.
3. The most important time is now.
So don’t waste your effort needlessly. Treasure the here and now.
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