A Serene Life
Once on the coast of Goa, a tourist met a fisherman. The fisherman had just returned with his catch of the day. Curious, the tourist asked him how long it took to catch the fish. “Not very long,” answered the fisherman.
The Tourist’s Advice
“But then, why didn’t you stay out longer and catch more?” asked the tourist. The fisherman explained that his small catch was sufficient to meet his needs and those of his family.
The tourist, eager to share his knowledge, said, “I have an MBA from IIM-A, and I can help you! You should start by fishing longer every day. You can then sell the extra fish you catch. With the extra revenue, you can buy a bigger boat.”
The Fisherman’s Questions
“And after that?” asked the fisherman. The tourist replied, “With the extra money, the larger boat will bring, you can buy a second one and a third one and so on until you have an entire fleet of trawlers. Instead of selling your fish to a middleman, you can then negotiate directly with the processing plants and maybe even open your own plant. You can then leave this little village and move to a city. From there you can direct your huge new enterprise.”
The Fisherman’s Patience
“How long would that take?” asked the fisherman. “Twenty, perhaps twenty-five years,” replied the tourist. “And after that?” The tourist chuckled, “Afterwards? That’s when it gets really interesting. When your business gets really big, you can start selling stocks and make millions!”
The Fisherman’s Wisdom
“Millions? Really? And after that?” asked the fisherman. “After that you’ll be able to retire, live in a tiny village near the coast, sleep late, play with your children, catch a few fish, spend time with your friends and family,” said the tourist.
With all due respect sir, but that’s exactly what I am doing now. So what’s the point of wasting 25 years?” asked the fisherman.
Moral of the Story
The moral of the story is that we can easily be happy by leading a simple life and should not complicate our lives unnecessarily. Life in the present world is indeed a rat race. Many who have good qualifications too do not know where they are going in life.
Teachings from Srimad Bhagavatam
In Srimad Bhagavatam verse 2.2.3, Sukadeva Goswami explains the minimum necessities of life:
“atah kavir naamasu yaavad arthah syaad apramatto vyavasaaya-buddhih siddhe ‘nyathaarthe na yateta tatra parishramam tatra sameekshamaanah”
“For this reason, the enlightened person should endeavor only for the minimum necessities of life while in the world of names. He should be intelligently fixed and never endeavor for unwanted things, being competent to perceive practically that all such endeavors are merely hard labor for nothing.”
Srila Prabhupada’s Explanation
Srila Prabhupada explains that the whole universe, or for that matter all material existence, is moving on simply for planning business to make one’s position very comfortable or secure, although everyone sees that this existence is neither comfortable nor secure and can never become so at any stage of development. The whole material creation is a jugglery of names only; in fact, it is nothing but a bewildering creation of matter like earth, water, and fire.
The Essence of Simple Living
We should lead a simple life and not a complicated one. We should wash using our hands and not rely on washing machines. We should avoid traveling by vehicle if the distance can be covered by walking, avoid unnecessary use of mobiles, laptops, and electronic appliances. We should not be addicted to the latest technologies but follow Vedic ways of living.
Proper Utilization of Resources
By the mercy of Krishna, if we have a good flow of Lakshmi (wealth), we should utilize it properly in the service of Krishna. We should concentrate more on the transcendental necessities rather than our materialistic necessities.
The Importance of Prioritizing Devotional Life
Most of us do not feel an urgency or necessity to focus on transcendental activities. We think we should care for these once we settle down in our material life or get old and retire, which is an illusion. We should try to settle down in our transcendental activities first, leading to peace and bliss without material anxieties.
Conclusion and Prayer
We all struggle so much in this material world to gain a little happiness but often forget to enjoy real happiness. We are so anxious about the future that we forget to live today. The nature of this material world itself is distress. We lose our peace of mind and run around just to earn money and reach a so-called “status,” often determined by others rather than our interests.
Prayer
O Lord, help me to understand and embrace the simplicity of life. Guide me to focus on what truly matters and to lead a life of contentment and devotion. May I always prioritize my spiritual growth and serve You with a sincere heart. Grant me the wisdom to see the true value of a simple, devoted life.
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare
