Whose mistake?
Once there lived a noble Guru known for his wisdom and
compassion. One of his disciple started complaining that his Guru did not teach
him anything valuable despite spending 20 years at his service. Hearing his
complaint, the Guru handed him the responsibility of bringing lunch for Guru
Kul(school) every day from neighborhood.
The disciple had to travel on foot few miles, carry the food
to Guru Kul and serve food to his Guru. While getting food from neighborhood he befriended a caged parrot to whom he complaint his Guru's lack of
willingness to teach him. The parrot replied, "Oh my friend! I have heard
great things about the noble Guru. Are you sure you were mindful in the process
of learning?". Frustrated disciple shouted, "After all you are a
parrot, you don't question my intelligence". Disappointed with his
arrogance, the parrot put an end to the conversation.
Few days later, when the disciple came to get lunch, the
gloomy parrot told him, "My master has decided to sacrifice me after two
days" and requested him, "Please ask the Guru a solution to save my
life". The lethargic disciple said, "He has not taught me anything
after spending 20 years with him. How would he be helpful to you?". But as
the parrot pleaded he decided to discuss with his Guru.
The next day, the curious parrot asked him for the solution.
The disciple said, "I told your misery to the Guru. When I asked for a
solution, the Guru simply lied on the floor motionless for a while and went
away. I am sure he is not willing to teach anything. I am sorry for your fate".
The next day, the disciple saw an empty cage. He felt bad
for his friend's death. He met his friend's master to confirm the death. The
angry master yelled, "That was a wicked creature. When I went to open the
cage, it was lying motionless as dead. Shocked, I opened the cage and took it
out for examination. Suddenly, the parrot flew away and escaped".
Hearing this, the disciple realized the parrot has learnt
from his Guru without even meeting him once but he had wasted 20 years. Now he
found where the lack of willingness actually was.