Leo Tolstoy was a famous Russian writer known for his realistic novels and short stories that explored themes of morality, family and spiritual awakening. His most notable works include War and Peace and Anna Karenina. One of Tolstoy's short stories, "What Men Live By", tells a tale of a king seeking answers from a wise hermit about what is most important in life. Through helping a wounded man, the hermit teaches that living in the present moment and serving others are the most meaningful ways for people to live.

2. • Russian Writer
• Novels, Novella, Short Stories,Essays
• Realism
• War and Peace(1869), Anna
Karenina(1877)
• Semi-Autobiographical trilogy:
Childhood,Boyhood,Youth(1852-56)
• A Confession(1879),The Kingdom of
God is Within You(1894)

3. • Three Stages : Personal(Animalistic),
Social(Pagan), Divine (spiritual/higher level of
understanding)
• Human life is a transitional phase; endeavour to
know the Absolute
• Mindfulness about inevitable death is important
• Righteous conduct is essential
• Service to others

4. • Moral Tales
• Life and Death
• Meaning of Life
• Self-Analysis
• Conscience of the World
• Change and Progression
Matthew Arnold opines that novels of Tolstoy are not
work of art but ' a piece of life'.

5. • What Men Live By and Other Tales (1885)
• Tale of a King seeking answer to three questions
• When is the right time for an action?
• Who are the right people to associate with?
• What is the most important thing to do?
• King is not satisfied by answers of educated men
of his kingdom
• King decides to visit a wise hermit

6. • King disguises as a simple man and approaches
the hermit to gain knowledge
• Hermit does not respond to the three questions of
the King and continues digging the soil
• The King helps the hermit
• Wounded Man arrives
• The King and the hermit nurse his wounds
• Wounded Man revives,begs for forgiveness and
confesses; King forgives and assures help

7. • Hermit's response to the questions of the King
• 'Now' is the most important time- Present is
immediate.Man has control over the present
• Person associated in the present is the most
important
• Present moment determines the importance of an
action

8. • Living in the moment reduces stress, expands
creativity, elevates attention levels,fortifies immune
system, increases efficiency and improves
performance
• Focus in the Present/Now silences fears and
anxieties of the Past and the Future
• Actions in the Present are rewarding; Past and
Future cannot be changed

9. • Mindful listening fortifies relationships -
friendship,marriage,lawyer-client,physician-patient
• Mindfulness develops deeper understanding
• Multi-tasking diminishes quality of action
• Presence in the moment enables better
performance

10. • Selfless service to mankind can enable man to
shed his ego, avarice and selfishness
• Happiness and sense of peace prevails on easing
pain of others
• Virtues make human existence meaningful