A scholar and a Ferryman

 One day, a scriptural scholar came to the edge a river and hired a ferryman to take him across in a boat. The scholar was proud of his intellectual learning and mistook such knowledge as being valuable in itself. The ferryman was simple and humble. While the boat was traveling across the river, the scholar started a conversation with the ferryman:

Scholar: “Well my friend, have you studied the Vedanta philosophy?”

Ferryman: “No sir, I have not.”

Scholar: “Oh, well then have you studied the school of logic?”

Ferryman: “No, I have not.”

Scholar: “Well surely then you must have at least studied the psychology of yoga?”

Ferryman: “No sir, I am an unlettered man.”

In this way the scholar kept on highlighting his own learning. Finally the scholar said:

Scholar: “Well, what can be done? It seems half your life has already been wasted.”

Just then, the waters of the river began to churn and became increasingly turbulent. The ferryman tried to control the boat, but it seemed that soon the boat would be capsized. The scholar began to get worried. Then the ferryman said:

Ferryman: “Learned sir, have you learned how to swim?”

Scholar: “No, I have not.”

Ferryman: “Well then. It seems your whole life is wasted! Good bye!”

With that, the ferryman dove out of the boat, and with all his might, started to swim for the shore.

Sources;- stories of SRI.Ramakrishna