The Meaning of Life

[Guest guest]

An American businessman was at the pier of a small coastal Mexican

village

when a small boat with just one fisherman docked.

Inside the small boat were several large yellowfin tuna.

The American complimented the Mexican on the quality of his fish and

asked how long it took to catch them.

The Mexican replied only a little while.

The American then asked why didn't he stay out longer and catch more

fish?

The Mexican said he had enough to support his family's immediate

needs.

The American then asked, 'But what do you do with the rest of your

time?'

The Mexican fisherman said, 'I sleep late, fish a little, play with

my children,

take siesta with my wife Maria, stroll into the village each evening

where I sip wine and play guitar with my amigos. I have a full and

busy life, senor.'

 

The American scoffed, 'I am a Harvard MBA and I could help you.

You should spend more time fishing and with the proceeds buy a bigger

boat,

with the proceeds from the bigger boat you could buy several boats,

eventually you would have a fleet of fishing boats.

Instead of selling your catch to a middleman you would sell directly

to the processor,

eventually opening your own cannery.

You would control the product, processing and distribution.

You would need to leave this small coastal fishing village and move

to Mexico City,

then LA and eventually NYC where you will run your expanding

enterprise.'

The Mexican fisherman asked, 'But senor, how long will this all take?'

To which the American replied, '15-20 years.'

'But what then, senor?'

The American laughed and said, 'That's the best part.

When the time is right you would announce an IPO and sell your

company stock

to the public and become very rich, you would make millions.'

'Millions, senor? Then what?'

The American said, 'Then you would retire.

Move to a small coastal fishing village where you would sleep late,

fish a little, play with your kids, take siesta with your wife,

stroll to the village in the evenings where you could sip wine and

play your guitar with your amigos.'

 

(author unknown)

[Guest guest]

A mendicant ascetic sat down where the Buddha

was instructing the monks. He listened attentively

unitl the Buddha finished the sermon and then

admonished the Awakened one to return to the

life of austerities. The Buddha listened in silence,

bowed respectfully, and left without saying a word.

 

Next day, the ascetic attended the sermon

and again, reproached the Buddha for his life of ease.

Gautama listened in silence and left without answering.

This scene repeated itself every day for a month, until

Ananada could not contain himself any longer, and asked the

Buddha,

 

" Master, why are you ignoring the questions of that ascetic? "

 

" Ananda, if I answer him he will not understand and will

wander off still thiinking he is right. My refusal to answer

keeps him here listening to us. As soon as he is ready I will

speak to him. "

 

Ananda feeling sorry for the ascetic who was by this time

visibly hurt and angry by Buddhas silence, approached him

the next day and said, " Please noble sir, don't be saddened

by my master's silence. He will answer all your questions

as soon as you are ready to understand. "

 

The Ascetic laughted with scorn, " It is your master who is

learning from me, and who is afraid to answer my questions,

but fear not, I'll stay here for as long as it takes to

instruct him. "

 

Ananda bowed to him and walked away

hardly able to contain his amusement.

 

 

 

 

 

Love,

Anna

[Guest guest]

Nisargadatta , " roberibus111 "

<Roberibus111 wrote:

>

> An American businessman was at the pier of a small coastal Mexican

> village

> when a small boat with just one fisherman docked.

> Inside the small boat were several large yellowfin tuna.

> The American complimented the Mexican on the quality of his fish

and

> asked how long it took to catch them.

> The Mexican replied only a little while.

> The American then asked why didn't he stay out longer and catch

more

> fish?

> The Mexican said he had enough to support his family's immediate

> needs.

> The American then asked, 'But what do you do with the rest of your

> time?'

> The Mexican fisherman said, 'I sleep late, fish a little, play

with

> my children,

> take siesta with my wife Maria, stroll into the village each

evening

> where I sip wine and play guitar with my amigos. I have a full and

> busy life, senor.'

>

> The American scoffed, 'I am a Harvard MBA and I could help you.

> You should spend more time fishing and with the proceeds buy a

bigger

> boat,

> with the proceeds from the bigger boat you could buy several

boats,

> eventually you would have a fleet of fishing boats.

> Instead of selling your catch to a middleman you would sell

directly

> to the processor,

> eventually opening your own cannery.

> You would control the product, processing and distribution.

> You would need to leave this small coastal fishing village and

move

> to Mexico City,

> then LA and eventually NYC where you will run your expanding

> enterprise.'

> The Mexican fisherman asked, 'But senor, how long will this all

take?'

> To which the American replied, '15-20 years.'

> 'But what then, senor?'

> The American laughed and said, 'That's the best part.

> When the time is right you would announce an IPO and sell your

> company stock

> to the public and become very rich, you would make millions.'

> 'Millions, senor? Then what?'

> The American said, 'Then you would retire.

> Move to a small coastal fishing village where you would sleep

late,

> fish a little, play with your kids, take siesta with your wife,

> stroll to the village in the evenings where you could sip wine and

> play your guitar with your amigos.'

>

> (author unknown)

>

nice story...

be who you are now...and leave the future a-head along with the past

....iietsa