LaIlLaLaLiLa

Once upon a time three members of the local spiritual nobility looked back on their life and how gently it had treated them. Family, wealth, and yes, satisfaction with their achievements on the Path. After ending their prayers they reminisced and suddenly one of them said:

"Brethren, please, do you not remember the young man, that left our town 40 years ago to live a hermit’s life on the island?"

They nodded and so he continued: "Please, consider, the poor man has been living and practising all on his own, never leaving the island! Shall we not pay a long due visit and share the spiritual knowledge that our master so kindly bestowed upon us?" And so it was agreed.

The very next day they got into a rowing boat making their way all over to the island. With sadness and embarrassment they heard on old and feeble voice reciting: "LaIlLaLaLiLa" thus revealing the utmost importance of their arriving here. When they hit the shore, they rushed to find the hermit by simply following the sound of his mispronounced efforts. They approached him with respect and politeness, diplomatically explaining their cause and were happy and relieved when the old hermit proved to be very, very grateful and most willingly welcomed the correction.

After a few hours of mutual prayer and practice they were sure to be able to leave the hermit until next month when they planned to return. They left the island, still listening to the hermit’s chanting that gradually slipped back to it’s old peccable form "LaIlLaLaLiLa" and then a sudden silence.

Deeply afflicted by the failure of their journey they continued rowing when one of them suddenly was tapped on the shoulder. The Old Hermit stood right next to the boat on the water and said:

"Listen, I’m really sorry, but…What were those words again?"