I happen to love parables or Zen Stories for the simple, but often profound truths they convey. So this week when I was at a loss for a topic to write about, I pulled out my folder of “stories” and found one that reminded me of something I felt worthy to share.
A young woman, depressed and unhappy with her life, decided to visit a Zen Monastery to seek help. Rather than ask her for details, the head master immediately sent her to get some salt. When she returned, the wise man instructed her to mix a couple of tablespoons of the salt in a glass of water and then take a drink.
“How does it taste?” the sage asked.
“Bitter,” spate out the young woman.
The master chuckled before then asking the woman to take her salt and follow him to a nearby lake. Once there, the young woman was told put the same amount of salt in the lake water as she did in the glass, and then swirl it around. Next he said, “Now drink from the lake.”
As the water dripped down the young woman’s chin, the master asked, “So, how does it taste?”
“Refreshing,” said the woman with a slight smile.
“Do you taste the salt?” asked the sage.
“Not at all,” answered the young woman.
At this the master sat beside this curious young woman, and explained softly: “The pain and sadness of life is pure salt; no more, no less. The amount of pain in life remains exactly the same. However, the amount of bitterness we taste depends on the container we put the pain in. So if you are sad or in pain, the only thing you can do is to enlarge your sense of yourself. Stop being a glass. Become a lake.”
This is a very appropriate parable to share at any time and especially now, Kathy. You may be aware the photo of the Bonsai tree was taken on Vancouver Island at Fairy Lake. Looking forward to “seeing” you soon.
Hi Erica! I had no idea where that photo came from (It was on unsplash.com) so thanks for letting me know. So beautiful. And yes to “seeing” you soon too! ~Kathy
Beautiful! But, we better not put our salt in the ocean, because that always tastes salty! 🙂
hahahaha! Isn’t that a little bit like putting salt on a wound? The lesson? If you have salt to deal with, make sure you know where to put it! ~Kathy
Love this parable. Thanks Kathy!
Deb
Thanks Deb! Let’s be the lake as best we can! ~Kathy
It will be a great parable for my clients and also the importance of the immediate small issue and the big picture.
Hi Gary! How great that you can share this with others to offer perspective. ~Kathy
Such a great parable!
Very wise.
Thanks Donna!
Delightful story. So meaningful with so few words.
Thank You, Kathy.
Hi Joanne! Yes, my writing could benefit from that! Glad you liked this one! ~Kathy
Lovely! I do love stories in which the moral is to enlarge yourself. There’s a story (maybe true) about Mark Van Doren (poet & scholar) whose neighbor’s child bit him for some reason, & he just said to the kid, “Look carefully are the teethmarks. Someday you’ll be astonished at how small they were.” The characters of Lois McMaster Bujold (excellent, smart fantasy writer) always grow emotionally/psychologically/spiritually. I would especially recommend The Paladin of Souls — a middle-aged woman as hero!
Hi Nancy! I agree. Stories where the characters “always grow emotionally/psychologically/spiritually are also some of my favorites. That’s why when I wrote my novel “Finding Grace” I tried to include that in the story! And thanks for the book recommendation. I LOVE sf/fantasy too so I’ll take a look at it! ~Kathy
I love parables and this is such a good one! “Stop being a glass. Become a lake”… so wise. We also need to be careful not to add salt to the vessels of others.
Hi Janis! Oh remembering that we can (and often do!) add salt to other people’s vessels is a very good thought! Thanks for that! ~Kathy
Wow! Great story. It will be the topic of conversation at our dinner table tonight.
Hey Tom! So how did the conversation go? Would love to hear where you took it. ~Kathy