An old man had bought a new horse. He and his son often travelled on this horse to visit the neighbouring village. One day he decided to go with his son on a long journey to a place far from his village. Since the man was going on a long journey, he was not sure whether the horse could carry both of them over long distances. Hence, being old, while he himself rode the horse, he asked his son to walk beside him. On the way, they came across a young man. The young man commented “This man does not love his son. He is mounted on the horse and is making the poor young son walk on foot.” On hearing this, the old man dismounted and asked his son to ride, and began to walk beside the horse. A little ahead on their way, an old woman saw them and criticised the son “How cruel and disrespectful is this young boy? He is riding the horse and making his old father walk.” The earlier comment of the young man and the words of this old woman confused the old man and his son. They thought it was proper for both of them to ride together. Then it would create an impression that they cared for each other.
The son requested his father to sit behind him on the horse. In this way both proceeded on their journey riding the horse together. After some time they crossed a village. Near a large stable in the village a few men were seated. Their horses were fastened beside the stable.
In order to give their horse some rest, the man and his son got down from the horse and to quench its thirst, led it to a sink of water near the stable. After the horse had taken water, both began to mount it again to continue their journey. However, watching the two persons sitting on the horse together, the men sitting around the stable began to laugh.
One of the men came near to them and said, “Why are you torturing the poor horse by riding it together? You are loading it with too much weight. The son said, “You are right. We did not notice that the weight of both of us was too much for the horse to carry. Now onward we shall give the horse rest by leading it without a rider.” Saying it, both of them dismounted and began to walk with the horse following them close behind. When they had gone a little further, they came across one more group of men. Seeing the man and his son walking with a horse without a rider, they too began to laugh.
One amongst the men commented, “How foolish these two persons are? In spite of having a horse they are walking on foot?” The man and his son felt very much confused. What were they expected to do with their horse? In the beginning of their journey, when they rode the horse one by one, the young man and the old woman told each other that they did not love each other. Later when they rode it together, people complained that there was too much load on it. Finally when they decided to take the horse without a rider, then too people considered them foolish for not riding the horse.
Further ahead on their way, there lived a sage. The man decided to seek his advice. On meeting the sage, he narrated the sequence of events. He said, “Sir! People make fun of us when we ride the horse singly, one at a time, together, or even go on foot without riding. What are we supposed to do?” The sage told the man, “You should not feel worried about the comments of others. People view things in the light of their own personal experiences.
When you were riding and your son was walking, the young man blamed you for making your son walk on foot. This young man was made to work very hard by his own father without any rest. That is why he had sympathy for your son. When your son was riding the horse and you were walking, the old woman accused your son for making you walk. This woman herself had a very disobedient and bad tempered son. Her son did not care for the comforts of his parents. For this reason, this old woman had sympathy for all old persons, who had disobedient children. The old woman thought that your son was also like her undisciplined son. He was making you walk for his own comfort.
People near the stable, who blamed both of you for loading the horse too much with the weight of two riders, were traders of horses. They noticed that your horse was too tired to carry the weight of two persons and excess weight was going to make it sick. The men, who made fun of you for not riding the horse and leading it without a rider, were butchers. They were very cruel towards animals. Hence they did not see anything wrong in a tired horse carrying a heavy load.
Hence, you should not be worried when people pass comments on your work. They speak on the basis of their own personal experiences. To a thief everyone appears a thief. Wherever a thief goes, he talks only about thievery. His friends and companions also discuss the same subject. Gentlemen always find some good quality in everyone. Their comments and discussions are always about goodness in people. Everyone judges you by his own personal experience.
When you go out, the cobbler judges your status by the quality of your shoes and a tailor by the quality of your clothes. In social gatherings, the fashion designer watches your clothes and hairstyle and the status conscious person keenly observes the quality of your clothes, tie, wristwatch, jewellery, and model of your bike, scooter or car. People take interest only in those subjects, which are liked by them. They also easily find friends with similar likings. However, everyone respects you, ignores you or hates you only on the basis of your manners, virtues and vices.
It does not matter what you look like, what you wear or what worldly things you possess. Hence you should never be worried about the opinions of people around you. When in doubt, use your own wisdom to decide whether you are right or wrong? It is very easy to know whether you are right or wrong. If what you think, speak or do is helpful to someone, you are right. If your action hurts someone physically or mentally, you are wrong.
Moral
You cannot please everybody by your actions. The comments of people reflect their own convictions and impressions. Without caring for “what people would say…”, use your own wisdom to judge your actions.
Source: Pragya Tales Part 2
