The sage and his disciple were in a journey. It was noon time. They were very much tired and at last reached an isolated house atop a hill. They were given a warm reception there. It was a small house without much facilities. The hosts treated them with butter milk and fruits. The sage thanked them and left the house. A cow was tied on a tree just a few meters away from the house. The sage asked his disciple to untie the cow and push it down the hill. He was very much astonished. ‘Will it die if I push it down? It is sure that the cow belongs to the man who treated us just now.’ The sage became angry and insisted him to do what he had said. The disciple rather unwillingly pushed the cow down the hill. After a few years the sage and his disciple came there again. There was a big house in the place of a small one. The members of the family were the same. They received them and treated well as before. The house owner said: ‘Rearing of a cow was the only means of our livelihood. We would sell its milk and buttermilk.
Unfortunately for us one day it happened to fall down the hill and died. Our single source of income came to a sudden stop. Then we were forced to seek other means of livelihood. We found out some. When the better prospects came we accepted them. Gradually we found ourselves in a better financial position. Sometimes we feel that the death of that cow was in fact a boon for us.’
Opportunity is not a person who comes near to you. It will go on its own way. What you have to do is to find out and join him. When you examine the history of successful persons you can realize one thing. They all were ready to chose the path of challenges. Those who seek only can find out. The doors will be opened only if you knock on them. Sometimes we may confine ourselves within a comfort zone.
No new skills are acquired there. The existing ones are not sharpened there. If we walk along the same path it may seem smooth for us. A new one may seem very difficult. But beyond the turnings sometimes there are certain better prospects and happiness awaiting us. The thought that ‘it is enough for me’ may prove unwise in the future.
P. Harikrishnan
