Once, Lord Buddha was meditating in a forest by the riverbank. Nearby was a Gurukul (ancient Indian school) where a sage was teaching his disciples. By chance, Sage saw Buddha and walked over to him.
In the presence of Buddha, Sage humbly asked, “Gurudev, can one achieve something through worship and rituals?”
Buddha smiled and replied, “First answer my question. If someone wants to cross this river, what must they do?”
Sage replied, “If they know how to swim, they can swim across. If a boat is available, they can cross by boat. And if the water level is low, they can walk across.”
Buddha asked again, “And if they do none of these three?”
Sage fell silent for a moment.
Then, as soon as the truth dawned upon him, he immediately bowed at Buddha’s feet and said, “Gurudev, I understand your point! Mere worship and rituals achieve nothing unless one takes action.”
Buddha, in a calm tone, said, “Exactly. If someone stands by the riverbank praying day and night, will they be able to cross the river? No! Until they try to swim themselves or use a boat, they cannot get across. In the same way, relying only on worship or fate will achieve nothing. Action is the true means to success.”
Essence:
If you want to cross the river, you must step into the water – that is the rule of life. God gives us intellect, strength, and opportunities, but the effort to swim or board the boat must come from us.
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