In our busy lives, we often feel overwhelmed with the thought of all the things we must do. Our education and the courses we take often reinforce this sense of constant action. However, there's a valuable lesson we can learn from a story that emphasizes the importance of simply letting things be.
Once upon a time, there was a wise Guru who wanted to teach his disciple an important lesson. He asked the disciple to fetch water from a muddy pond. The disciple, eager to please his Guru, went to the pond and collected the water carefully. He worked tirelessly to make the water as clear as possible, but no matter how hard he tried, it remained murky and impure.
Seeing his disciple's struggle, the Guru stepped in and offered guidance. He told the disciple, "Just let it be. Allow it to rest."
The disciple, trusting his Guru's wisdom, followed his advice. He left the water undisturbed, allowing it time to settle. As the minutes passed, something miraculous happened—the mud in the water began to settle, and clear water gradually rose to the top. The disciple had learned a valuable lesson—sometimes, by letting things be, clarity emerges on its own.
This story aligns with the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita. Two verses from the Gita beautifully illustrate these principles:
1. Bhagavad Gita 2.47 (Sanskrit):
"कर्मण्येवाधिकारस्ते मा फलेषु कदाचन।
मा कर्मफलहेतुर्भूर्मा ते सङ्गोऽस्त्वकर्मणि।।"
Translation (English): "You have a right to perform your prescribed duties, but you are not entitled to the fruits of your actions. Never consider yourself the cause of the results of your activities, and never be attached to not doing your duty."
Just as the disciple diligently collected water without worrying about its clarity, we should perform our duties without attachment to the outcomes.
2. Bhagavad Gita 3.19 (Sanskrit):
"तस्मादसक्तः सततं कार्यं कर्म समाचर।
असक्तो ह्याचरन्कर्म परमाप्नोति पूरुषः।।"
Translation (English): "Therefore, without attachment, always perform your duty efficiently, O Arjuna. By working without attachment, a person attains the Supreme."
Just as the disciple let the water be without constant interference, we should perform our duties efficiently without being overly attached to the results.
In essence, these verses and the story remind us to approach life with a sense of calm and acceptance. By letting things be and focusing on our actions rather than the outcomes, we can find clarity and peace in the midst of life's challenges.
Manjushree Rathi
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