Once Buddha was travelling with a few of his followers.
While they were passing a lake, Buddha told one of his disciples, “I am
thirsty. Do get me some water from the lake.” The disciple walked up to the
lake. At that moment, a bullock cart started crossing through the lake. As a
result, the water became very muddy and 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 there 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.The disciple went back, and
found that the water was still muddy. He returned and informed Buddha about the
same.After sometime, again Buddha asked the same disciple to go back.
This time, the disciple found the mud had settled down, and
the water was clean and clear. 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 you have clear water.
Your mind is like that too ! 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.”
Here is the real message for mankind! Patience is a virtue
that all of us can try to practise, despite the frantic hustle and bustle of
this hard-nosed world. Alas everybody is so caught up in the rat race that they
become intolerant and impatient in the activities of daily life. People rush
from place to place and do not bother exchanging greetings or pleasantries.
Impatient motorists resort to reckless driving and road rage. There are all
kinds of unwanted consequences and if not checked lead to all kinds of
emotional, social, family and health problems.
Is there any better way to achieve peace of mind!
Having ‘Peace of Mind’ is not a strenuous job; it is an
effortless process!
“TREAT EVERYONE WITH POLITENESS EVEN THOSE WHO ARE RUDE TO
YOU
NOT BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT NICE BUT BECAUSE YOU ARE NICE.”
