A lesson in ripples …

November 20, 2016 at 11:02 am · Filed under Christianity, Faith, God, Healing, Health, Hope, Inspiration, Life, Living, Love, Meditation, Meditative Writings, Philosophy, Religion, Spirituality, Zen and tagged: a conduit for Love, anxiety for future, depression, Inspiration, opening your heart, stress, Surrender, worry

A student came to his teacher very perplexed. Life had become unbearable and the only person he knew who could help him was his teacher.

His teacher received him warmly and listened as her pupil poured his heart out, tears just behind his words but not yet managing to fall.

When his words could no longer adequately describe his anguish, and the room was silent, the teacher rose and motioned for her student to follow.

They walked outside where raindrops were lightly sprinkling all around and the teacher sat on a bench near a pool. The student sat next to her and watched as she simply stared at the pool. He grew restless.

Finally his teacher said, “Do you see the droplets of water falling on the surface of the pool?”

“Sure, of course I do.” the student answered quickly.

“Good,” his teacher said, “now see if you can guess where you think the next droplet of water will fall.”

The student studied the pool for a few seconds and said impatiently, “I cannot.”

“Okay. Now I want you to focus with ALL your might, use the techniques I have taught you, and try to stop the droplets from hitting the water.”

The student was stunned at this daunting request, but did not want to disappoint his teacher so he did as he was instructed. He went through all of the techniques his teacher had taught him and when he was ready he focused his will with every ounce of concentration he could must. He created a sphere of energy and moved it over the pool to prevent the droplets from landing.

Still the water droplets landed on the surface of the pool.

The student’s shoulders slumped, “I cannot do it.” he said softly. His failure only adding to his woes.

“That is correct.” his teacher acknowledged, “No matter how hard you try you cannot stop the water from falling into this pool. Such are the events that take place in this world. Just as you cannot predict where the next droplet will fall, so too can you not predict the next event that will occur in your life.”

The student was relieved that he had not failed this test, but still seemed perplexed.

“You are looking at life as if you can predict what will happen and control it … but you cannot. To try and do so takes a tremendous amount of energy and concentration … and you will never be successful.”

His teacher paused and looked out over the pond again, “Now try and look at the surface and appreciate the beauty that each droplet of water creates.”

The student did so and after a few minutes a sigh escaped his lips. The ripples of each droplet intersected with each other over and over creating a hypnotically beautiful piece of evolving art.

“The difference between how you perceive the droplets of water hitting the pool before and now is all a matter of perspective. So it is with life … change your perspective on how you view the events unfolding around you and they will no longer trouble you. If you can surrender to the flow of Life without fighting or trying to impose your will on it, then you will be on the path to contentment and happiness and even possibly … enlightenment.”

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