Billionaire investor Warren Buffett fielded questions at the annual shareholders meeting for his company Berkshire Hathaway. When asked about reflections and lessons learned in his long life, Warren Buffett referenced Charlie Munger, the 93-year-old vice chairman of Berkshire Hathaway, who says, “All I want to know is where I’m going to die so I’ll never go there.”
(Reference: NPR, May 6, 2017: ‘Oracle of Omaha’)
A. Student: “Can I know where I am going to die?”
Master: “Yes, you can.”
Student: “Where is it?”
Master: “It is where you are alive.”
Student: “How can I avoid going there?”
Master: “Don’t move even a step.”
Student: “Do you mean that I should stay here where I am alive now?”
Master: “Don’t stay here, either. Don’t you remember my saying that where you are going to die is where you are alive?”
Student: “Where should I stay if I should neither move a step nor stay where I am now?”
Master: “Don’t move at all, but don’t stay anywhere.”
Student: “How far is it?”
Master: “It can’t be nearer.”
Student: “Why is it so difficult to get there?”
Master: “Because you are going the wrong way.”
Student: “What is the right way?”
Master: “Get there quickly and directly.”
Student: “How can I get there quickly and directly?”
Master: “You already took the wrong way.”
Commentary:
Do you want to know where you don’t die?
It can’t be nearer.
The right way to there is invisible.
If it takes even a second to get there, it’s the wrong way.
©Boo Ahm
All writing ©Boo Ahm. All images ©Simon Hathaway