CHINNA KATHA FROM BHAGAVAN’S DISCOURSE. No. 49.

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49 - What nonsense is this?

 

One uneducated and simple minded person joined a military recruiting

centre. He was undergoing a few months' training course which would make

him eligible to join the army. Unfortunately, just after completing a

week of this training, news reached that there would be a visit of an

army officer who would interview the candidates and inspect the type of

training being given by the centre.

 

The person in charge of training these candidates was very much worried

about the newly recruited simple minded man. However, since he happened

to be an experienced army officer, he knew well the type of questions

that would be put to the new recruits. So, he coached this man

thoroughly to answer correctly most plausible questions. He asked him to

first of all remember the sequence of the questions. The first question

would be 'What is your age?' You are to say " 22 years " . The second

question would be 'How long have you been in this centre?' You are to

answer " two years " . And the third may be, 'Are you happy in this centre

or do you feel homesick?' You have to say " I am at home both here and in

my place. "

 

The Cadet learnt these answers by rote. On the day of inspection, he was

asked to come to the interview room. The inspecting officer asked him,

" How long have you been here " ? The cadet just remembering the sequence

of the questions said, " 22 years " . The officer was rather surprised.

Then he asked, " What is your age " ? The cadet said, " Two years " . " What

nonsense is this? Are you mad or am I mad " , roared the officer. The

cadet calmly answered, " Both " as he could only remember just that word

because he had by then got scared.

 

It is dangerous to remember things by rote.