Sunday, January 23, 2011

Its how you look at things ...

Once an unhappy young man came to an old master and told he was very sad and asked for a solution. The old Master instructed the unhappy young man to put a handful of salt in a glass of water and then to drink it. "How does it taste?" the Master asked. "Awful," spat the apprentice. The Master chuckled and then asked the young man to take another handful of salt and put it in the lake.

Thereafter the two walked in silence to the nearby lake and when the apprentice swirled his handful of salt into the lake, the old man said, "Now drink from the lake."
As the water dripped down the young man's chin, the Master asked, "How does it taste?" "Good!" remarked the apprentice. "Do you taste the salt?" asked the Master.
"No," said the young man.

The Master sat beside this troubled young man, took his hands, and said, "The pain of life is pure salt; no more, no less. The amount of pain in life remains the same, exactly the same. But the amount we taste the 'pain' depends on the container we put it into. So when you are in pain, the only thing you can do is to enlarge your sense of things... Stop being a glass. Become a lake!"

10 comments:

Ankita Sarkar said...

Nice one. Where did you get it?

Sylvia K said...

What a wise and wonderful way to start my day! Always love your words of wisdom! Hope you have a lovely evening!

Sylvia

nsiyer said...

Thanks Ankita. I read it somewhere.

Sylvia, I am unable to reach your site and pass comments. Thanks as always.

Shefali said...

Completely agree with this, Sir. It articulates what one has felt often, but not paused to articulate in one's mind..

Unknown said...

Take it in your stride or see the silver lining, that helps become a lake....

nsiyer said...

Yeah, Shefali.Articulation is the key.

Vishal, thanks, its all about how much one can expand.

Kalpana said...

Again a very nice story sir. Agree with this. Thanks.

Darril said...

Really superb story.. Nice one.. thank u..

Anu...:) said...

Very nice and inspiring! :)

Neha Phanse said...

Sir, the quality to either become a lake or glass, is purely inherent. it's our self awareness...what's ur take on it?