This is a simple story of a sage. As you know, people get bored, and one day, this sage with all his knowledge and cultivation, became ever so restless.
So he decided to take a walk.
And he chanced upon a man at a stream.
A fisherman of advanced age sitting on a fairly flat stone, swaying his fishing rod ever so slightly, waiting...
In an instant, the fishing line pulled taut! The fisherman, clearly experienced, fought effortlessly and finally reeled in the catch. "My god the fish was big!" thought the Sage, it was indeed almost 3 feet long and putting up a valiant struggle while the fisherman struggled to free his hook from its mouth.
After some effort, the fisherman freed his hook and rearing up, he threw the fish back into the stream! Recomposing himself, he casted his rod and sat down waiting again. The Sage, puzzled at the fisherman's behaviour, was curious to understand this fisherman who had thrown such a big catch, surely able to sell for much, away.
10 minutes pass and the line snagged again. Going through his motions, the fisherman landed a fish still fairly large, about 2 feet long. The fish thrashed about in defiance while the fisherman once again extracted the fishing hook. After doing so, and once again, he threw the fish back from where it came!
Now the Sage was clearly dumbfounded and badly wanted to ask the fisherman why was he doing this, but he stayed put and continued to watch as the fisherman sat down once again with his line casted. In a few minutes the fisherman pulled out a catch not more than 1 feet in length. The Sage saw him smile for the first time as he unhooked the fish and delivered it into his catch basket.
Urged on by the questions in his head, the Sage approached the fisherman while he was packing up to go and asked "I've been watching you fish and I don't understand why you threw such a big fish away for the small one in your basket!" Sheepishly, the fisherman smiled "Haha, only the fish in the basket fits onto the one plate I have at home." Saying which he strolled slowly down the path towards his home.
Simply in the scene, the Sage learned how a simple man cloud let go of his greed and take only what he needs.
How often do we desire for more more more, not realising, all we need are the simple things in life.
