This story was sent to me by my sister, the original was in Hindi, I have rendered it in English with minor touch ups.

Procrastination or anticipation

Long time ago a fakir would sit by the bank of a river and gaze endlessly at the water rushing by. No one knew why he did this; was he meditating, contemplating, or something else.

One day a curious passerby asked him what he was doing at the bank gazing emptily. Expecting for someone to show up? The fakir replied “I want to cross the river, but I am getting delayed.” Why so, what is holding you back, asked the passerby. “I come here every day in the hope that the river will have completely flown all the water it has, so I can cross it. Hasn’t worked so far, and I don’t know when that day will come.”

More delays…and a Solution!

The passerby was amused and commented if you keep waiting for the flow of water to run out, you will never be able to cross the river. The fakir replied “That is exactly the message I am trying to deliver – you all are getting delayed, and might not be able to reach the other bank either.”

Did I miss something? We are getting delayed for what – asked the passerby, confused at the fakir’s remark. “The delay I am referring to is about doing the three essentials on your journey through this life. They are: ‘seva’ (being in service with devotion and compassion*), ‘simran’ (reflect on who we really are*, and remembrance of the lord in all you do), and ‘satsang’ (gathering to share wisdom and guidance*). Waiting (like me) – until all your worldly engagements and responsibilities are exhausted will mean you will be waiting forever, and your time on the planet will run out” commented the fakir.

Having delivered his message – the fakir got up and moved forward to the river with determination. His closed with these final comments “The work and responsibilities of our life will be unending. We need to create the path forward performing ‘sat’, ‘seva’, and ‘simran’ as part of the journey.”

 

*http://www.huffingtonpost.com/deepak-chopra/new-humanity-part-2_b_19720.html