Lesson of life – independence. In everyone’s life comes a moment when they must face the opinions of others. Often, we are faced with a choice: to follow the voice of the crowd or to walk our own path. There is a fable that presents this dilemma in a simple yet profound way. This story, taken from “Philosophical Tales” by M. Piquemal, is titled “The Sage’s Lessons” and offers a valuable lesson for anyone seeking their own way in life.
Lesson of Life – Choosing Own Path
A certain old sage had a son who did not want to leave the house because he was complexed about his appearance. He was afraid that people would mock him. The father explained to him that one should never listen to what others say, and decided to prove it to him.
– Tomorrow – he said – you will go with me to the bazaar!
They left the house early in the morning; the old sage on the back of a donkey, and the son walking at his side. When they arrived, the local merchants could not refrain from murmuring:
– Look at that man, no pity! He rests on the back of the donkey, while his poor son has to walk. The sage said to his son:
– Did you hear well? Tomorrow you will go with me to the bazaar again.
The next day, the sage and son did the opposite: the boy sat on the back of the donkey, and the old man walked at his side. At the entrance to the market square, the same merchants were there.
– Look at that rude child – they said.
– Sits calmly on the back of the donkey, while his old father has to drag himself in the dust of the road.
– Did you hear well? – the father asked the son.
– Tomorrow you will go with me to the bazaar again.
On the third day, they set off on foot, pulling the donkey behind them on a leash.
– Look at those two idiots – the merchants mocked.
– They walk on foot, as if they didn’t know that donkeys are there to be ridden.
– Did you hear well? – the sage asked.
– Tomorrow you will go with me to the bazaar again.
On the fourth day, when they left the house, both were sitting on the back of the donkey. The merchants at the entrance to the square vented their indignation:
– What a shame! Look at those two! They have no pity for that poor animal!
On the fifth day, they went to the marketplace, carrying the donkey on their shoulders. The merchants summed it up with a burst of laughter:
– Look at those two fools, carrying the donkey instead of riding it!
The sage concluded all this with the following conclusion:
– Dear son, as you have heard, whatever you do in life, people will always have something to fault. Therefore, you must not care about their opinion: do what you think is right, and go your own way.
Conclusion: A Lesson in Independence
Lesson of life – independence. This simple story hides a deep truth. The sage summarized the entire experience, telling his son: “As you see, no matter what you do, there will always be people who will have something to criticize. Therefore, it is not worth worrying about their opinion. Do what you think is right, and go your own way.” This parable teaches us that in life we will inevitably encounter a variety of opinions and assessments of our actions. However, it is important not to become slaves to these opinions, but to be guided by our own conscience and convictions. In this way, we can find the true path to happiness and self-fulfillment.
Dr. Iwona Burka holds a Ph.D. in Economics and has carved a distinguished career as a business trainer, researcher, adviser, and university lecturer. Celebrated for her contribution to various papers on management systems, she's also co-authored the seminal book, "Lean Service in theory and practice". With years immersed in the real-world implementation of management systems, Dr. Burka excels at simplifying complexities and excess. She fervently champions the optimization of organizational processes using the Lean approach combined with the Kaizen philosophy.
