The Beauty of Simplicity
This story makes me think of how we all strive for more and more worldly things, and how they can just complicate our life. Sometimes it is the simple things in life which can make one more happy than boat loads of money and material things.
"The 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 America 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 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."
8 Responses to “The Beauty of Simplicity”
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my fellow gurusikh gurumustak singh ji
waheguruji ka khalsa
waheguruji ki fateh , this story is a lot more like wat happened b/w Alexander the Great,and a Saint at the banks of river Aatak(a barrier)betta known as “Sind”, wen he entered (old)India(from NW side).
Moral of the story : God has given enough to satisfy our need, but not our greed .i hope ev1 agrees.
Wahegurji ka khalsa Waheguruji fateh,
Gurumustak singh ji you have blessing of Guru ji, with knowledge we can, all see clearly what is more important in out lives, we all have seen on TV story on Ana Nicole Smith she tried so hard to get the money at the end we all know what happen, Howard marshal senior and junior died fighting over the same money as well at the end nobody got anything, we all need to ask for sikhi jevan and namm insted material things.
Wonderful Story.
Gurbani guides us to stay away from this kind of forced labour
ਸਾਰੋ ਦਿਨਸ੠ਮਜੂਰੀ ਕਰਤਾ ਤà©à¨¹à© ਮੂਸਲਹਿ ਛਰਾਇਆ ॥
The man works all day long, threshing the husks with the pestle.
ਖੇਦ੠à¨à¨‡à¨“ ਬੇਗਾਰੀ ਨਿਆਈ ਘਰ ਕੈ ਕਾਮਿ ਨ ਆਇਆ ॥੩॥
He is depressed, like a forced laborer, and so he is of no use to his own home. ||3||
à¨à¨‡à¨“ ਅਨà©à¨—à©à¨°à¨¹à© ਜਾ ਕਉ ਪà©à¨°à¨ ਕੋ ਤਿਸ੠ਹਿਰਦੈ ਨਾਮ੠ਵਸਾਇਆ ॥
But when God shows His Mercy and Grace, He implants the Naam, the Name of the Lord, within the heart.
ਸਾਧਸੰਗਤਿ ਕੈ ਪਾਛੈ ਪਰਿਅਉ ਜਨ ਨਾਨਕ ਹਰਿ ਰਸ੠ਪਾਇਆ ॥੪॥੨॥੪॥
Search the Saadh Sangat, the Company of the Holy, O Nanak, and find the sublime essence of the Lord. ||4||2||4||
But its sad that only a few understand this simple mantra of happiness.
Gurumustak Singh Ji:
If you remember that once you posted Dalip Kaur’s kirtan audio of following Shabad:
vaddae vaddae jo dheesehi log ||
Those who seem to be great and powerful,
thin ko biaapai chi(n)thaa rog ||1||
are afflicted by the disease of anxiety.
That one shabad of Guru has helped me to think in other way. Anyhow, thanks for sharing.
Regards,
Bikramjit
Except that in 15 years, the American would have a house with a tile floor instead of a wood floor, money for health care for when he got sick in his old age, food other than fish which he could even have prepared for him by a servant (probably the fisherman’s wife or daughter) or by someone who works in a restaurant. He would also have money to leave the fishing village to visit his educated children if he so pleases. Or even money to see a movie or buy a book.
I hate to put a damper on a simple morality tale, but I’d be willing to bet there are many very real class distinctions even in your community if you look.
Simplicity is important, but poverty sucks no matter how romantic it seems.
Sorry, I meant a dirt floor, I dont know how to edit it.
I don’t think this story is meant to look at literally. To me it is just an example of how people constantly strive for more than they have…and the more is never enough. It’s about being happy with what you have.
i agree , gurumustak singh ji .