For Quick Alerts
ALLOW NOTIFICATIONS  
For Daily Alerts

To Go With The Flow

By Staff

Zen story, letting go
A group of creatures lived at the bottom of a crystal river. It was customary of them to cling on to twigs and rocks at the bottom of the river as they were conditioned to do so from their birth. Resisting the current was their way of life, lest they would be washed away.

One creature however decided to let go of its clinging nature to go with the flow of the current. The other creatures dissuaded it from its mission saying that it would be tossed and turned and washed away by the waters.

The creature with the exploring spirit said "I trust the current's flow. I shall let go and let it take me where it will. By clinging this way, I shall die of boredom". The other creatures laughed and said "You are a fool to go the way of the current. You will be washed and smashed against the rocks and will die quicker than in boredom!"

The creature, true to the words of the others was washed and smashed against the rocks and as a result was bruised and hurt. However its ragging spirit of courage kept it away from clinging further. The waters then lifted it free from the bottom and it was not hurt or bruised anymore.

The creatures downstream once eyed a creature of their own specie flying to their wonderment. The awestruck clingers said "A creature like us flying!" They shouted out to him "See the Messiah come to save us all!" The one that ventured in the current said "I am no more Messiah than you. The river is all set to lift us free, if only if we dare let go. Our true mission is this voyage, this adventure"

The creatures under water cried out "Saviour!" as they still clung to the rocks making legends of a saviour.

Story first published: Tuesday, June 9, 2009, 17:31 [IST]
Read more about: zen stories short stories