In some of my previous posts too, I have narrated stories from Panchatantra (Wiki link : Wiki link of Panchatantra) . I really find the stories fascinating and so relevant even today . The story below shows the importance of common sense. While we recruit people in the organization, we give a lot of importance to their educational qualifications, credentials etc. But we also have to see if they have worldly common sense or not. In my experience, I have found real gems who do not have impressive educational qualifications but due to their aptitude and initiative, they add so much value at the workplace.
Enjoy the story ....
Once upon a time, there
lived four friends Three of them were very learned in matters of the Holy
Scriptures, but lacked common-sense. .
One of them did not have any learning credentials but had good common-sense.
One day, the four of them decided, "The knowledge and learning
that we have is no good if we cannot use
it to impress the king, or otherwise to earn money!"
They decided to travel, in order to earn money
using their knowledge. But the fourth friend was not learned, so they thought
of leaving him behind. They agreed, "What good is common-sense? His
talents would not help in earning money, let only three of us travel."
After much pleading by the fourth Brahmin, they
decided, "After all he is our dear friend, let us take him along with us! We will
also share a part of our earnings with
him . That’s what friends are for! "
So, the four of them started their travel to meet
the king. While they were travelling through a jungle, they noticed the bones
of a dead lion, lying on their way.
One of them said, "Let us start using our
knowledge ! We have a dead lion in front of us. Let us try to bring life into
it!"
While the three Brahmins agreed, the fourth
Brahmin did not like the idea. But his preference was ignored by the other
three Brahmins, and they started holy rituals.
One of the Brahmins collected the bones of the
lion and created the skeleton of the
lion.
Another Brahmin used his learning to cover the
skeleton with flesh and skin.
As the lifeless lion stood in front of them, the
third Brahmin initiated the rituals to put life into the lion.
The fourth Brahmin was alarmed, "O friends,
if the lion comes to life, he will kill all of us! Please stop what you are
doing!"
The Brahmins ridiculed him, "After reaching so
far, are we going to waste our knowledge? You say so, because you are jealous
of us and our knowledge !”
The fourth Brahmin knew there was no point in
arguing with them. He pleaded, "Please give me a moment. I wish to climb a
tree before you make use of you scholarship."
He started climbing up a big tree, and could see
from above the third Brahmin put life into the lion.
As soon as the lion became lively, he noticed the
three Brahmins, who were celebrating their successful implementation of their
scholarship.
The lion immediately pounced on them, and killed
them.
The fourth Brahmin could do nothing but wait till
the lion had gone. Then, he climbed down the tree and returned home alone.
As leaders, we have to keep our ears and eyes open .
We should listen to the person who has common sense . Sometimes, we get so much involved in the intricacies of the technicality that we get entangled in the web of our knowledge.
We should listen to the person who has common sense . Sometimes, we get so much involved in the intricacies of the technicality that we get entangled in the web of our knowledge.
It is during those critical situations that we should take a step back and try to put some "common" in our senses.
Only then we will be able to save ourselves like the fourth Brahmin who climbed up the tree .
