The River and the Lion

"After the great rains, the lion was faced with crossing the river that had encircled him. Swimming was not in his nature, but it was either cross or die.

The lion roared and charged the river, almost drowning before he retreated. Many more times he attacked the water, and each time he failed to cross.

Exhausted, the lion lay down, and in his quietness he heard the river say, "Never fight what isn't here."

Cautiously, the lion looked up and asked, "What isn't here?"

"Your enemy isn't here," answered the river. "Just as you are a lion, I am merely a river."

Now the lion sat very still and studied the ways of the river. After a while, he walked to where a certain current brushed against the shore, and stepping in, floated to the other side."

Is there something you are fighting? 

Take a moment to pause, quieten and study the situation. You may find that there is nothing to fight.

Source : "The little book of Letting Go"   by Hugh Prather

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Teaching the horse to fly

The sultan of Persia had sentenced two men to death.  One of them, knowing how much the sultan loved his stallion, offered to teach the horse to fly within a year in return for his life.  The sultan, fancying himself as the rider of the only flying horse in the world, agreed. 

The other prisoner looked at his friend in disbelief.  “You know horses don’t fly.  What made you come up with a crazy idea like that?  You’re only postponing the inevitable.”  “Not so,” said the first prisoner.  “I have actually given myself four chances for freedom.  First, the sultan might die during the year.  Second, I might die.  Third, the horse might die.  And fourth…I might teach the horse to fly.” 

Instead of submitting oneself to the situation a great idea at proper time will not only save from trouble, but it can be turned into an advantage.

 Source:  The Craft of Power, R.G.H. Siu

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sgUsPrkj4yY

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