Thursday, April 29, 2010

Peace or pieces (of mind)

I read this piece somewhere and thought I should pen this down.

Once when Buddha was walking from one town to another with a few of his followers, they happened to pass a lake. They stopped there and Buddha said to one of his disciples, "I am thirsty. Go and get me some water from that lake there."

The disciple walked up to the lake. When he reached it, he noticed that some people were washing clothes in the water, and right at that moment, a bullock cart started crossing through the lake.

As a result, the water became very muddy, very turbid. The disciple thought, "How can I give this muddy water to Buddha to drink!" So he came back and told Buddha, "The water in the lake is very muddy. I don’t think it is fit to drink."

After about half an hour, again Buddha asked the same disciple to go back to the lake and get him some water to drink. The disciple obediently went back to the lake.
This time he found that the lake had absolutely clear water in it. The mud had settled down and the water above it looked fit to be had. So he collected some water in a pot and brought it to Buddha.

Buddha looked at the water, and then he looked up at the disciple and said, "See what you did to make the water clean. You let it be, and the mud settled down on its own and then you got clear water. Your mind is also like that! When it is disturbed, just let it be. Give it a little time. It will settle down on its own. You don’t have to put in any effort to calm it down. It will happen. It is effortless."

15 comments:

Sucharita Sarkar said...

So true. Time heals most things, be it pain, be it turbulence.

Sylvia K said...

Marvelous, wise words and what a great reminder to all of us! There have certainly been some times lately when I could have used that advice. I'm writing it down and putting it where I can read them the next time my mind gets muddy! Thanks as always, Subba for the wisdom! Have a wonderful weekend!

Sylvia

Kavi said...

Clarity ! Clarity ! Clarity ! In perpetual search for clarity !

super post sir !

Unknown said...

you come up with some amazing stories thanks for sharing it..... will always remember this one !!!!

Ugich Konitari said...

"....When it is disturbed, just let it be. Give it a little time...."

Today, no one has time, everyone wants everything right now. No wonder we see more troubled minds today, than , say, I saw in my childhood.

Thank you for posting this. Time to stop, read, and think about this ....

Anuradha Rawat said...

Amazing story sir. Thanks for sharing it. I know what i need to do now... probably, just let it be! :)

nsiyer said...

Sucharita thanks a million. Things finally settle down. Its the patience and time.

Thanks Sylvia. You are a continuous inspiration.

nsiyer said...

Kavi , you are right. Its the clarity to see things in perspective.

Ranu, thanks a lot. I am touched.

nsiyer said...

Thanks Ugich Konitari, you are amazing with your relevant comments. Yes today is totally different.

Hey Anuradha, where are you? Thanks and keep in touch.

Giri Vasan Guinness said...

Yes. Let go needs a lot of patience and maturity. Another learning is disturbed mind is like troubled water, unclear.

Aditi Mehta said...

That's very true.. Yes it's the patience and the time that we need to answer all the questions, if we lack that then all the problems seem very huge..

Neha said...

another jewel from your wonderful storage..thank you for sharing sir :)

nsiyer said...

Hi Girivasan. Thanks a lot for coming over.

Hi Aditi, how are things? Thanks for your nice comments.

Hi Neha. Your comments always inspire me.

sujata sengupta said...

Such a nice and practical thought!! Thanks for sharing this one.

Varsha said...

wow.....something for me...

Thanks. I like your blog, shall keep visiting