An Empty Boat…………

One day, a monk decides to meditate alone, away from his monastery. He takes his boat out to the middle of the lake, moors it there, closes his eyes, breathes normally and begins his meditation. After a few hours of undisturbed silence and in a deep meditative state, he suddenly feels the bump of another boat colliding with his own pretty hard. With his eyes still closed, he senses his anger rising and his face turns almost red with fury. By the time he opens his eyes, he is ready to scream at the boatman who dared disturb his meditation.

But when he opens his eyes, he sees it’s an empty boat that had probably got untethered and floated to the middle of the lake not knowing whether there was another boat floating by.  At that moment, the monk achieves self-realization and understands that the anger is within him, it merely needs the bumps of an external object to provoke it out of him.

From then on, whenever he comes across someone who irritates him or provokes him to anger, he reminds himself, ‘The other person is merely an empty boat. The anger is within me. It is not outside. I have to understand from where my anger is coming.’  Take time for introspection and search for your answers within yourself. Learn from your mistakes and be kind and gentle to whomever you come across in your life. Empty boat is simply a famous and fabulous metaphor. Its value lies in its implementation.

Every aspect of our lives needs to be reflected and contemplated through the lens of Timeless Wisdom. Being content and grateful are the keys to living a life free from anger and bitterness. Be a Light unto Yourself.