A man was walking across a field. He passed by a farmer and asked him:
“How long will it take me to reach the town?”
The farmer looked at him and gestured with his hand for him to keep walking.
The traveler thought the man had not understood him and asked again:
“How long will it take me to reach the town?”
The farmer once more pointed for him to go on.
“Well, it seems this man doesn’t want to bother with me,” the traveler thought, and continued on his way.
When he reached the end of the field, he heard the farmer calling after him:
“Man, you will reach the town by noon.”
“All right then, I asked you twice—why are you telling me only now?” the traveler asked.
“To know when you would arrive, I first had to see how you walk,” the farmer replied.
Source: Traditional Indian wisdom story (retold by Osho)
