From Gautum Baiji's Satsang:
Three people were travelling on a boat. As the trip progressed, they introduced themselves and got to know each other.
They were all quite educated in their particular disciplines, and they enjoyed showing off their knowledge.
Soon the conversation turned to the Vedas, and each seemed to know more than the other. They were more interested in impressing each other than in encouraging each others' spiritual enlightenment.
One of them noticed the boatman was listening to them.
"What's your opinion of the Vedas?" one of them asked.
The boatman shrugged and said, "I have not read them."
The scholars looked at each other with surprise. "Are you serious? The Vedas are crucial to a well-rounded life. Only an idiot would not be familiar with them."
"Your life is practically worthless," one of them said arrogantly about the boatman.
The boatman just listened and continued steering the boat.
The sky darkened just then and a storm descended on them. Low clouds brought heavy rain and wind, and the waves rose menacingly around them. They were violently rocked from side to side.
The passengers grabbed on tight or they'd be thrown into the churning waters.
"What's happening?!" one of them cried.
The boatman looked at them grimly. "The boat is taking on too much water and is going to sink. You all know how to swim, yes?"
The first scholar looked at him frightfully. "I spent all my time at the library studying. I never had time for swimming lessons!"
The boatman looked at the others, whose shared the same expressions of shame.
"Well I hope whatever you read in the Vedas is going to help you now. As for my worthless life, somehow I found time to learn to swim and I will continue to live that life past this challenging day."
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