Leo Tolstoy: The Three Hermits [ for the full version please, visit https://www.theculturium.com/leo-tolstoy-the-three-hermits/, I am offering shortcut edited by Osho] ‘What hermits?’ (they were very famous and people from the region was stopping to attend service in the churches while putting themselves in line to go to the island of hermits with the hope to met them), asked the Bishop, going to the side of the vessel and seating himself on a box. ‘Tell me about them. I should like to hear. What were you pointing at?’ ‘Why that little island you can just see over there,’ answered the man, pointing to a spot ahead and a little to the right. .................................................................................................. His curiosity piqued, the Bishop wants to know how they converse with each other and of what matters they discuss: .......................................................................... Immediately, the Bishop asks the ship’s captain to take him forthwith to the island so that he may meet the three illiterate hermits ............................................................................... Setting afoot on the island, the Bishop is greeted by the three hermits who are exactly as described to him on deck—old and humble, with little to say. Without haste, he enquires of their spiritual practice, feeling it is his duty to offer religious counsel, being “an unworthy servant of Christ … called, by God’s mercy, to keep and teach His flock”: The old men looked at each other smiling, but remained silent. ‘Tell me,’ said the Bishop, ‘what you are doing to save your souls, and how do you serve God on this island?’ The second hermit sighed, and looked at the oldest, the very ancient one. The latter smiled, and said: ‘We do not know how to serve God. We only serve and support ourselves, servant of God.’ ‘But how do you pray to God?’ asked the Bishop. ‘We pray in this way,’ replied the hermit. ‘Three are ye, three are we, have mercy upon us.’ And when the old man said this, all three raised their eyes to heaven, and repeated: ‘Three are ye, three are we, have mercy upon us!’ Mikhail Nesterov, To Blagovest. Photograph: [Public Domain] WikiArt Somewhat sanctimoniously, the Bishop praises their efforts and yet proceeds to inform them that there is a far better way to please God by reciting the Lord’s Prayer, which he then endeavours to teach them: “Our Father, who art in Heaven …”. ..................................................................................................... As dusk descends, the Bishop is finally satisfied that he has performed his religious instruction to the best of his ability and the hermits are now better prepared to offer service to God: It was getting dark, and the moon was appearing over the water, before the Bishop rose to return to the vessel. ............................................................................................................................................ And the moonlight flickered before his eyes, sparkling, now here, now there, upon the waves. Suddenly he saw something white and shining, on the bright path which the moon cast across the sea. Was it a seagull, or the little gleaming sail of some small boat? The Bishop fixed his eyes on it, wondering. .............................................................................................................. All three hermits were gliding along upon the water without moving their feet. Before the ship could be stopped, the hermits had reached it, and raising their heads, all three as with one voice, began to say: ‘We have forgotten your teaching, servant of God. As long as we kept repeating it we remembered, but when we stopped saying it for a time, a word dropped out, and now it has all gone to pieces. We can remember nothing of it. Teach us again.’ Mikhail Nesterov, Riders. Photograph: [Public Domain] WikiArt .................................................................................................. And the Bishop bowed low before the old men; and they turned and went back across the sea. And a light shone until daybreak on the spot where they were lost to sight.
There is a one new type - cooperators. We can take, we can give, whenever we are called to do - we are traders, new beings, exactly what the world need.
"Your opinion of the world is a confession of your own character. Change your view of the world and people in your world change." - Ralph Waldo Emerson
''The work you do while you procrastinate is probably the work you should be doing for the rest of your life.'' -Jessica Hische
There are only two states of consciousness that exist – the state of the ego and the state of love -Osho
"Enthusiasm is common but endurance is rare" - Angela Duckworth PS in Sanskrit there is a word for this "Arambhashura" means starting strong then fading away.