THE THREE QUESTIONS
Long ago, there lived a king who was always searching for wisdom.
He believed that if he could find the answers to three important questions, he would never make a mistake and would always know exactly what to do.
His three questions were:
1. What is the right time to begin anything?
2. Who is the most important person?
3. What is the most important thing to do?
The king announced throughout his kingdom that he would reward anyone who could give him satisfactory answers.
Many wise men came to the palace.
One said that the king should prepare a timetable and follow it strictly because every action had its proper time.
Another said that the king needed the advice of wise men and should always listen to them before making important decisions.
A third man said that the most important people were doctors, because they could save lives.
Others argued that soldiers, priests, farmers or merchants were the most important people.
The king listened carefully, but he was not satisfied.
Finally, he heard about a wise hermit who lived alone in a forest. The hermit was known for his wisdom, but he did not meet important people. He spent his days working in his garden and speaking only to ordinary visitors.
The king decided to visit him.
He dressed himself in simple clothes, left his guards behind and went into the forest.
When the king found the hermit, he saw him digging the soil in front of his small hut.
The king greeted him and asked his three questions.
The hermit listened but continued digging.
The king repeated his questions.
Still, the hermit said nothing.
The king noticed that the old man was becoming tired.
“You are tired,” said the king. “Give me the spade. I will work for you.”
The hermit handed him the spade.
The king began digging.
Time passed.
The king asked the questions again.
The hermit still remained silent.
Then suddenly, a wounded man came running out of the forest.
He was holding his hands against his stomach, and blood was flowing through his fingers.
The king immediately stopped digging.
He rushed towards the wounded man, carried him to the hermit's hut and cleaned his wound. He washed it, bandaged it and continued caring for him until the bleeding stopped.
The wounded man was exhausted.
The king gave him water and helped him lie down.
By evening, the man fell asleep.
The king was also tired. He lay down near the entrance of the hut and soon fell asleep.
The next morning, when the king woke up, he found the wounded man looking at him.
“Forgive me!” the man said.
The king was surprised.
“I do not even know you. Why are you asking me for forgiveness?”
The man explained that he had once been an enemy of the king. He had planned to kill him because the king had punished his brother and taken away his property.
He had been waiting in the forest to attack the king.
But the king's guards had discovered him, and while trying to escape, he had been wounded.
“If you had not treated me,” the man said, “I would have died. I came here to harm you, but you saved my life. From today onwards, I will be your faithful servant.”
The king was deeply moved.
He forgave the man and promised to return his property.
Then the king turned towards the hermit.
“I must have an answer to my three questions,” he said. “Please tell me what you think.”
The hermit smiled.
“You already have your answers,” he said.
The king looked puzzled.
“Yesterday, when I was digging, the most important time was the time when you were digging. It was the only time you had. The most important person was the man who came to you, because he was the person who needed your help. And the most important thing to do was to help him.”
The hermit continued:
“Later, when you were caring for the wounded man, the most important time was that moment, the most important person was the wounded man, and the most important thing was to save his life.”
The king finally understood.
The hermit gave him the final lesson:
“Remember that there is only one important time—now. The present moment is the only time over which we have power. The most necessary person is always the person with whom you are, for no one knows whether they will ever have dealings with anyone else. And the most important affair is to do that person good, because for that purpose alone was man sent into this life.”
The king returned to his kingdom with a completely different understanding of wisdom.
He had gone to the forest looking for complicated answers.
Instead, he discovered something wonderfully simple.
THE MESSAGE OF THE STORY
We often spend our lives worrying about yesterday or planning endlessly for tomorrow. But the present moment is the only moment we can actually live.
The person standing before us may need our kindness, attention or help. We may not know what tomorrow will bring.
And sometimes, doing something good for another person is far more important than finding the perfect answer to every question.
Tolstoy's story reminds us that wisdom does not always come from books, grand speeches or complicated theories.
Sometimes, it is found in a simple act of kindness at the right moment.
THE THREE ANSWERS AT A GLANCE
The most important time: Now.
The most important person: The person who is with you.
The most important thing: To do good to that person.
