Source : The Internet
~ The journey of a stream ~
There was a stream which flowed down from the upper stream of a distant high mountain, passed through many villages and forests, until it reached a desert. The stream thought, “I’ve already been through countless obstacles, this time I should also be able to pass through this desert!” When it decided to cross the desert, it discovered its water gradually disappearing into the mud and sand. After numerous tries, it found in the end it was all in vain and was very upset. “Perhaps this is my destiny, I can never reach the legendary vast ocean,” it murmured dejectedly to itself.
At this time, a bellowing voice echoed from all directions, “If a breeze can cross, so can a river.”
It was the voice of the desert. The stream unconvincingly replied, “That is because a breeze can fly over the desert, but I cannot.”
“Since you insist on your original appearance, you will never manage to pass through this desert. As long as you’re willing to give it up what you’re now, let yourself evaporate into the breeze, and let the breeze take you and fly over this desert to your destination,” said the desert in its deep voice.
The stream had never heard of such a thing, “Renounce my present appearance, and then disappear into the breeze? No! No!” The stream could not accept this concept. After all, it had never had such an experience before. Wouldn’t it be self-destruction to give up what it was now?
“How do I know if this is true?” asked the stream.
“The breeze can carry vapour across the desert and release the vapour as rain at an appropriate place. Thereafter, the water of rain will form a river again and continue to flow forward,” answered the desert patiently.
“Will I still be the original river?” asked the stream.
“Yes and no.” replied the desert.
“Whether you’re a river or invisible vapour, has your inner nature ever changed? You insist that you’re a stream, because you have never known your inner nature.” At that moment, deep down the stream seemed to vaguely remember what it was like before it became a river. It was perhaps also the breeze that had taken it up to the mid-slope of a certain mountain, where it turned into rain and fell onto the ground, before finally becoming today’s river. Then, the stream finally summoned its courage, threw into the open arms of the breeze, let the breeze embrace it to rush towards the home (at a certain stage) of its life.
Our journey in life is often similar to the experience of the stream. If one wants to surpass the obstacles in life, to achieve a breakthrough at a certain level, to continually progress towards the goals of truth, virtue and beauty, one should also have the wisdom and courage to ‘renounce one’s ego (obstinateness)’ and gracefully progress towards the unknown fields.
Perhaps you can try to ask yourself:
What is your inner nature....
What do you tightly hold onto and refuse to let go......
What is it that you really want........
