The title above is part of one of the innumerable legends of Indian Buddhism passed down by generations of devotees over the centuries around its main figure, Prince Siddhartha Gautama, the Buddha, the Enlightened One.
Due to his closeness to the Buddha, Ananda was assigned one of the main disciples as well as a personal companion, following him in most pilgrimages as interlocutor of the dialogues with others, receiving by this devotion the nickname: The Guardian of the Laws created by the Cosmic Powers.
On one of these pilgrimages, following the Master and having Ananda the perfect sharpness of mind and inquirer about the struggles for self-knowledge and self-realization, exhaustively taught by the Buddha, he asks him a question:
--- “Master, knowing that you are a sagacious man, so detached and full of virtues, yet the vast majority of men are still drowning in the waters of the Ocean of Mediocrity, suffering so much; why not share your wisdom to place them above the pains of the world, freeing them from desires?
And Buddha, drawing a silent smile, responds:
--- Ananda, do you know the small village located nearby?
--- Yes, Master, I know where it is.
--- Well, I'd like you to go there and do me a favour.
--- Of course, Master, what do you want me to do?
--- I need you to ask the people in charge of each house, what they desire to have and bring me the answers.
And there goes Ananda to fulfil what the Master asked for!
This task cost him a whole day, gathering information and requests sketched by all. And at the end of the afternoon, with the sun already setting down, Ananda appears in front of the Master, presenting the result of his work.
--- And then Ananda, did you ask everyone?
--- Yes, Master. I have the result here.
--- Master, the vast majority of them asked for material goods that would allow them to live a more comfortable life with decent houses to live in, to have good health, to have their children well married, to have longer lives.
--- But, Ananda... does Buddha ask with a look of apprehension? How many said they would like to have more wisdom?
--- No Master, no one asked me about it!
--- Ananda... how do you want me to give something to men if they do not ask me to receive it? How can I distribute wisdom if none of them has the desire to receive this gift?”
That is, it is not enough that there is a Master prepared to offer wisdom; there must be men receptive to receive it. When one does not desire wisdom, even though it spreads throughout the world, it will be like a flower that anyone will not collect.
This same concept applies to the idea of someone wanting to be a philosopher, a good one, but no one can force someone to be a philosopher... or a good midwife, but this midwife will never be able to give birth to a woman who is not pregnant.
It is not possible to give birth to something that is not developed, that is not expected, that is not desired. Only after a long period of incubation is when the dormant wisdom in man does it eventually come into the light, suppose that this man desires it, seek it and face the stony paths of the journey of renunciation!
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