Sunday stories: clinging to beliefs; denying reality
Once there lived a village of creatures along the bottom of a great crystal river. Each creature in its own manner clung tightly to the twigs and rocks of the river bottom, for clinging was their way of life, and resisting the current what each had learned from birth. But one creature said at last, “I trust that the current knows where it is going. I shall let go, and let it take me where it will. Clinging, I shall die of boredom.”
The other creatures laughed and said, “Fool! Let go, and that current you worship will throw you tumbled and smashed across the rocks, and you will die quicker than boredom!”
But the one heeded them not, and taking a breath did let go, and at once was tumbled and smashed by the current across the rocks. Yet, in time, as the creature refused to cling again, the current lifted him free from the bottom, and he was bruised and hurt no more.
And the creatures downstream, to whom he was a stranger, cried, “See a miracle! A creature like ourselves, yet he flies! See the Messiah, come to save us all!” And the one carried in the current said, “I am no more Messiah than you. The river’s delight is to lift us free, if only we dare let go. Our true work is this voyage, this adventure.
But they cried the more, “Savior!” all the while clinging to the rocks, making legends of a Savior.
Source: This story was extracted from “Illusions” by Richard Bach (author of Jonathan Livingston Seagull).
Talking points:
(1) We don’t see things as they are; we see things as we are.
(2) Ideas, theories and beliefs are not necessarily truths.
(3) A belief is not an idea held by the mind; it is an idea that holds the mind.
Sep 21st, 2008 at 10:59 am
Beliefs may hold the mind, but I think more they guide it. “World-view” or what-have-you.
I have to say - It sounds like Obama :)
Sep 21st, 2008 at 3:59 pm
I don’t have any idea why you would relate this post to Obama. Could you expand on that?
Sep 22nd, 2008 at 12:13 am
Nice parable. I’ll have to buy the book.
You are as dead now as you will ever be. - Seth
We all at times hold on to twigs or rocks (beliefs), but the problem comes when the reason we are holding onto them is fear. Fear of what is down river, fear of the unknown, fear of death, fear of life. Beliefs can be stepping stones to greater knowledge and understanding, but if they are based on fear they become walls that limit us. Any belief based on fear needs to be examined to find the root of the fear. Once we find the root of that fear and we truly understand it, then it no longer holds power over us.
Life is all about the journey, and living it hanging onto a twig on the bottom of the river of life is not my idea of life.
Sep 22nd, 2008 at 12:28 pm
“Illusions” was a great book. One of my favorites. “Winter’s Tale” by Mark Helprin also had a lot of good stuff in it; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winter’s_Tale_(Helprin)
Sep 22nd, 2008 at 12:56 pm
The essence of the story may vary depending on how one intereprets it. But I think sometimes, we need to be open to every possibility and give room for the benefit of the doubt in order to succeed and find contentment in life. If we can only give up these beliefs.
Sep 22nd, 2008 at 6:39 pm
@Richard
I think it’s an interesting parable that can be interpreted many ways too. There have been several interpretations posted on the forum and all of them are fascinating.
Thank you for the wisdom: Any belief based on fear needs to be examined to find the root of the fear. Once we find the root of that fear and we truly understand it, then it no longer holds power over us.
I’ve been thinking a lot about perceptions and clinging to preferred outcomes is a subject I will be addressing in an upcoming blog post.
A life of clinging to the rocks may be a safer one, but that’s as good as it can ever be, and that’s not good enough for me.
Sep 24th, 2008 at 7:09 pm
Ooooooh, this is a powerful post. I LOVE this one. I can’t even begin to express here all the thoughts that arose from this. But I like it!!!
I am definitely a “let-ter go-er” I love letting go and flowing in the river…even when I don’t know where it will take me. That is half the fun of it. I’m sitting here with a huge grin on my face. I was just writing to someone about the power of making those tough decision where we are bored but don’t dare let go and make change. And how it is this very change and letting go that keeps us vitally ALIVE. We enter the GREAT CURRENT of life and we are charged with vitality and wisdom and adventure. Oooooh I SOOOOOO like this post!!!! Yes, yes, yes!!!!
Sep 24th, 2008 at 9:32 pm
While our beliefs may guide us, what we actually believe is what’s important. Our beliefs may lead us to good or bad, often times they clash with others beliefs. Unless we are open to others beliefs while holding strong to ours. Many wars are started by someones beliefs, and that person is often closed to any opinions of others. If we all are a little more open to others thinking and at the same time hold fast to our own this society might get better.
Sep 25th, 2008 at 10:40 am
Thank you for sharing this little story which is so illustrative! It’s a real challenge to find a balance between preserving the status quo and letting go!
Sep 26th, 2008 at 8:14 am
My mother in law (who passed away a couple of years ago) had this saying I used to love, “Nothing is but thinking makes it so,” and that is absolutely true. Our reality is shaped by our perception of events–and each of our perception can be slightly to vastly different.
Melinda
Sep 29th, 2008 at 1:59 pm
@Robin
Clinging to the rocks is not for me. It’s not for anyone else who really wants to “fully experience” life. As Richard points out it’s fear that glues people to the rocks and twigs at the bottom of the stream.
You said it so well: We enter the GREAT CURRENT of life and we are charged with vitality and wisdom and adventure.
Sep 29th, 2008 at 2:15 pm
@Tony
You have said: If we all are a little more open to others thinking and at the same time hold fast to our own this society might get better.
I agreed with where you are coming from but I want to share something else. People who really have a strong belief also have quiet confidence and the ability to hear others out. People who are barely clinging to a belief system due to childhood brainwashing, or who have adopted a belief system based on fear and/or guilt, are the ones who I find to be less likely to be open minded.
Sep 29th, 2008 at 2:18 pm
@Lynda
You’re right finding a balance is a challenge. However, when we look deep within, I think we know what we ought to let go of. In my case, beliefs that do not lead to growth and a deeper appreciation for and enjoyment of life are the ones that I endeavor to let go of.
Sep 29th, 2008 at 2:20 pm
@Melinda
Is that ever a great quote. Thanks for sharing it.
“Nothing is but thinking makes it so” Our reality is shaped by our perception of events – and each of our perceptions can be slightly to vastly different.
Oct 9th, 2008 at 2:14 am
People love their misery. They love that aura of victim hood. They don’t want enlightenment, liberation from it. They say they do, but what they really want is your attention, the alms of compassion you bring to them. Without their misery they find themselves empty and useless so they go back to the bottom… So be careful bringing them liberation… There was this guy Jesus that tried that once… they nail him to a cross.
Oct 13th, 2008 at 4:37 pm
This is elegantly put, and the sentiments edifying. And although I do call upon a saviour, I have gone with the current in order to do so, and have been dashed upon the rocks many times… by my own kind as well as happenstance. It’s an exquisite thing when the current finally lifts you up. Thanks for this. :)
Oct 14th, 2008 at 7:46 am
@buddha
I acknowledge what you say is true … SIGH … Thanks for sharing your wisdom.
Oct 14th, 2008 at 7:47 am
@Tony
Thanks for visiting, reading and finding value in the post. It’s good to hear from you. :)
Nov 25th, 2008 at 3:17 pm
Hello! Your Post “y stories: clinging to beliefs; denying reality” is very interesting for me. Unfortunately my written English is not so good so I write in German: Dir, meinem liebsten, geh
Nov 25th, 2008 at 5:06 pm
@Briefe Schreiben
I’m sorry to say that I have only one language and it’s English. Hopefully, you will be able to use a translator so you can understand my post. Here’s a link to the Google translator http://www.google.com/language_tools