There’s a beautiful story told by Osho that has stayed with me for years. It’s simple. Almost childlike. And yet, it cuts deep.

An old fisherman had a habit. Every morning, before sunrise, he would wake up, lift his fishing net onto his shoulders, and walk toward the river. It was his rhythm. His life. His routine.

One day he woke up earlier than usual. It was still dark. The world was silent. But since he was awake, he decided to head out anyway.

On the way, in the thick darkness, he stumbled over something. Irritated, he bent down and found a small gunny bag lying in his path. Curious, he picked it up and carried it with him to the riverbank.

There was time before sunrise. The air was cold. The river was still. To pass the time, he opened the bag. It seemed to be filled with stones and pebbles.

With nothing better to do, he picked up one pebble and tossed it into the river.

Chhappakk.

The sound of the pebble touching the silent water echoed in the darkness.

He smiled.

He picked another one and threw it.

Chhappakk.

Then another.

And another.

Soon, he was enjoying the rhythm. Pebble after pebble disappeared into the river. He didn’t count. He didn’t think. He simply threw.

By the time only one last “stone” remained in the bag, the sun began to rise. The first ray of light touched his hand.

And he froze.

The “stone” he was holding was not a pebble.

It was a diamond.

It glittered brilliantly in the morning light.

His heart pounded. His breath caught. His hands trembled.

He looked into the empty bag. In the darkness, in ignorance, he had thrown away a sack full of diamonds — a treasure that could have enriched generations.

Tears rolled down his face. A cry escaped his lips.

He had lost almost everything.

Almost.

We Are That Fisherman

Pause for a moment.

Isn’t this our story?

We wake up every morning with a sack full of diamonds — time, health, relationships, attention, curiosity, creativity, energy.

And in the darkness of unconscious living, we throw them away.

• One scroll.
• One argument.
• One postponed dream.
• One neglected conversation.
• One ignored opportunity.

Chhappakk.

Another day gone.

Chhappakk.

Another year.

Chhappakk.

Another chance we never took.

We assume these are “pebbles.” Ordinary. Replaceable. Infinite.

But when light dawns — often too late — we realize they were diamonds.

The Diamond Bags Life Gives Us

Now pause.

Life keeps placing such gunny bags in our path.

But because it’s still dark — because we are rushed, distracted, unconscious — we assume they are filled with pebbles.

We get a bag called youth.

We treat it like loose change — like something that will always be there. We waste nights, postpone health, delay dreams — as casually as tossing stones into a river.

We get a bag called parents.

We think they are permanent — like mountains that will never move. We postpone conversations, skip visits, assume “next time.” And one day the sun rises… and the mountain is gone.

We get a bag called marriage or love.

At first it feels ordinary — like daily bread on the table. Familiar. Predictable. We stop noticing its fragrance. We stop appreciating its warmth. Only when cracks appear do we realize it was gold all along.

We get a bag called children.

They seem like endless mornings — noisy, demanding, tiring. We wait for them to “grow up.” And then one day, like sand slipping through fingers, the house is quiet.

We get a bag called health.

It feels invisible — like air. You don’t value air until you struggle to breathe. We treat our bodies like rental cars instead of sacred vehicles.

We get a bag called talent.

It feels common — “Everyone can do this.” So we underplay it. Hide it. Delay using it. Not realizing it was a rare diamond shaped only for us.

We get a bag called time.

It looks like pebbles because each day feels small. What is one day? What is one hour? What is one year?

But a life is built exactly like a river fills — drop by drop.

We get a bag called failure.

We think it’s worthless gravel. We throw it away in shame. Only later we discover it was polishing us, shaping us, sharpening us.

We even get a bag called ordinary mornings.

The cup of tea. The sunrise. The walk. The simple breath. They look like stones. But when the sun of awareness rises, we realize they were jewels.

The Darkness Is Not Outside

Notice something powerful in the story:

The darkness wasn’t outside. It was simply the absence of light.

Most of us are not lacking resources. We are lacking awareness.

We treat:

• Our parents as permanent.
• Our bodies as indestructible.
• Our time as unlimited.
• Our dreams as postponable.

And so we throw.

• We trade deep conversations for shallow distractions.
• We trade health for convenience.
• We trade purpose for comfort.
• We trade courage for approval.

Then one morning, something happens.

• A diagnosis.
• A loss.
• A regret.
• A milestone birthday.
• A child leaving home.

The sun rises.

And suddenly, we see.

The years were diamonds.

The ordinary days were diamonds.

The small moments were diamonds.

And we whisper, “If only…”

The Power of the Last Diamond

Here’s the most hopeful part of the fisherman’s story:

He still had one diamond left.

Yes, he lost many.

Yes, ignorance cost him dearly.

But the light came before he threw the last one away.

That’s grace.

And that’s us — right now.

No matter your age.

No matter your past mistakes.

No matter how many years feel “wasted.”

If you’re reading this, one diamond is still in your hand.

This day.

This breath.

This moment.

You cannot retrieve the diamonds already thrown.

But you can decide what to do with the one you hold now.

Today, before the sun sets, look at the diamond in your hand.

Hold it carefully.

See it clearly.

Value it fully.

And for once, instead of throwing it away —

Invest it.

You cannot retrieve the diamonds already thrown into yesterday. But you can decide what to do with the one you hold today.

Before this day ends, ask yourself gently: where am I treating diamonds like pebbles? Is it a relationship I am taking for granted? A dream I keep postponing? A body I am ignoring? A talent I am hiding?

Awakening doesn’t require big speeches or dramatic changes. It begins with attention. With seeing clearly. With valuing what is already in your hand.

Tomorrow morning the sun will rise again.

The question is simple.

Will you still be throwing diamonds into the river — or will you finally recognize what you are holding?

About the Author

Dr Mukesh Jain is a Gold Medallist engineer in Electronics and Telecommunication Engineering from MANIT Bhopal. He obtained his MBA from the prestigious management institute, the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad.  He obtained his Master of Public Administration from the Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University along with Edward Mason Fellowship. He had the unique distinction of receiving three distinguished awards at Harvard University: The Mason Fellow award and The Lucius N. Littauer Fellow award for exemplary academic achievement, public service & potential for future leadership. He was also awarded The Raymond & Josephine Vernon award for academic distinction & significant contribution to Mason Fellowship Program.  Mukesh Jain received his PhD in Strategic Management from IIT Delhi. His focus of research has been Capacity building of organizations using Positive psychology interventions, Growth mindset and Lateral Thinking etc.

Mukesh Jain joined the Indian Police Service in 1989, Madhya Pradesh cadre. As an IPS officer, he held many challenging assignments including the Superintendent of Police, Raisen and Mandsaur Districts, and Inspector General of Police, Criminal Investigation Department and Additional DGP Cybercrime, Transport Commissioner Madhya Pradesh and Special DG Police. He has also served as Joint Secretary in Ministry of Power and Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India. As Joint Secretary, Department of Persons with Disabilities, he conceptualized and implemented the ‘Accessible India Campaign’, launched by Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi in December 2015. This campaign is aimed at creating accessibility in physical infrastructure, Transportation, and IT sectors for persons with disabilities and continues to be a flagship program of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India since 2015.

Dr. Mukesh Jain has authored many books on Public Policy and Positive Psychology.  His book, ‘Excellence in Government, is a recommended reading for many public policy courses. A leading publisher published his book- “A Happier You: Strategies to achieve peak joy in work and life using science of Happiness”, which received book of the year award in 2022.  His other books are : ‘Mindset for Success and Happiness’, ‘Seeds of Happiness’, and ‘What they don’t teach you at IITs and IIMs’.

He is a visiting faculty to many business schools and reputed training institutes. He is an expert trainer of “The Science of happiness”.  He has conducted more than 250 workshops on the Science of Happiness at many prominent B-schools and administrative training institutes of India, including Indian School of Business Hyderabad/ Mohali, National Police Academy, IIFM, National Productivity Council etc.