Stories of the Masters: Two By The Sea
Wisdom tales for enlightenment
I love spiritual stories, especially from Zen and Taoism. These stories can typically be recited or read in a single sitting. They contain and focus on self-contained incidents and occasionally a series of linked incidents. The intention of these stories is to offer a message or lesson or evoke introspection or mood. These stories may be told in the form of folk tales, legends, mythic tales, fables, and or anecdotes often told by respected teachers, masters, sages, or gurus.
“There was once two young people who lived near the ocean. They were named Sam and Kelly. They really loved the water, the waves and the salty air spraying across their faces on windy days. Each spoke of a future where they would have careers tied to the ocean.
After high school each of these friends went their own way, losing contact in the process.
About thirty years later they returned to the small ocean village, they had grown up in, and took a walk on the beach discussing the glory days of their youth.
As they discussed their lives they learned that each had stayed close to the sea, but that their individual lives had unfolded much differently.
Sam had reached for and vigorously sought out the physical things in life, starting as a commercial sailor. It was a rough and tumble life he chose, moving from job to job, experiencing different forms of stress, pressure, and dysfunction, moving from one physical and emotional port of call, to the next. Sam had experienced financial struggles, alcohol, and many hard relationships moving from project to project, battling all the way with life, trying to get the material things they had fantasized about having. Often this was done in vain.
Kelly, on the other hand, had never left their hometown other than to travel a bit, and see the world every year. Kelly had set up businesses built around the beach, and eventually owned many companies related to the water, while also experiencing all that had once been fantasized about.
Kelly had never imagined in youth, what they would do specifically or even physically. They just had a sense that it would be where the ocean met the beach. Ultimately, Kelly owned a restaurant, surfing and scuba diving services, boat rentals, a lifeguard training school etc. Kelly, delegated well to others, had a passion for all of these things, and did them well, also creating work for many of the locals in what had been a sleepy town with little work.
Kelly also carried a spray bottle filled with sea water, so when they wanted to feel and sense the ocean, they would close their eyes, listen to the waves rushing in and spray the sea water on their face.”
The Moral of this Story
The point here, of course, that one can have an easier, and meaningful life, training the mind to seek Experiential Goals rather the Physical Goals. Understanding the content of experience that you seek may bring you the best physical things as well and you won’t be a slave to them.
Here is a great story @gary_14756
Here is a story from the archives Lewiscoaches
Author: Lewis Harrison is a best selling author and a student of essential Zen and Mystic Taoism.
For a decade, Lewis was the host of a humor-based Q & A talk show on NPR (National Public Radio) affiliated WIOX FM in NY.
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