Become a Lake
One day, a young man sought help from his teacher, Guruji. Desperate because of the problems in his life, he said, “Guruji, I am very upset and I don’t know how to get out of this situation. Please, tell me the solution!”
Guruji calmly responded, “Take a handful of salt and put it in a glass of water, then drink the water.”
The young man followed the instruction, putting the handful of salt into the glass of water and then drinking it. Guruji then asked, “How does the water taste?”
The young man immediately reacted, “It’s bitter, absolutely salty!” he said, spitting it out.
Guruji smiled gently and said, “Take another handful of salt and follow me.”
They both slowly walked to a lake with crystal clear water. They reached the shore, and Guruji said, “Now, put this salt into the lake.”
The young man did as he was told. Then Guruji said, “Now drink the water from the lake.”
The young man bent down and took a few sips. After drinking, Guruji asked him again, “How does the water taste now? Do you still feel the bitterness?”
The young man replied, “No, the water is sweet and refreshing.”
Guruji then sat beside the young man, took his hand, and said, “The sorrows of life are like salt; they are always present, neither more nor less. However, the amount of sorrow you feel depends on the container into which you put it. When you experience sadness, don’t be like the small glass. Become the vast lake.”
Moral of the Story:
Life’s difficulties and sorrows are inevitable, but their impact on us depends on how we expand our perspective and open our hearts. If we focus only on the problem, we become like a small glass, where even the smallest amount of sorrow can overwhelm us. But if we expand our mind and spirit, like a large lake, the sorrow loses its power, and we remain calm and balanced despite all the challenges.
