Peace of Mind by Buddha

[priyaLOA]

EFFORTLESS

Once Buddha was walking from one town to another town
with a few of his followers. This was in the initial days.
While they were traveling, they happened to pass a lake.
They stopped there and Buddha told one of his disciples,

"I am thirsty. Do get me some water from that lake there.


The disciple walked up to the lake.
When he reached it, he noticed that right at that moment,
a bullock cart started crossing through the lake.
As a result, the water became very muddy, very turbid.
The disciple thought, "How can I give this muddy water to Buddha to drink!"


So he came back and told Buddha,
"The water in there is very muddy. I don't think it is fit to drink."
After about half an hour, again  Buddha asked the same disciple
to go back to the lake and get him some water to drink.
The disciple obediently went back to the lake.
This time too he found that the lake was muddy.
He returned and informed Buddha about the same.


After sometime, again Buddha asked the same disciple to go back.

The disciple reached the lake to find the lake absolutely clean
and clear with pure water in it.
The mud had settled down and the water above it looked fit to be had.
So he collected some water in a pot and brought it to Buddha.

Buddha looked at the water, and then he looked up at the disciple and said,"
See what you did to make the water clean.
You let it be.... and the mud settled down on its own - and you got clear
water.

Your mind is also like that!
When it is disturbed, just let it be.
Give it a little time. It will settle down on its own.
You don't have to put in any effort to calm it down.


It will happen. It is effortless.
 
What did Buddha emphasize here?

He said, "It is effortless."
Having 'Peace of Mind' is not a strenuous job;
it is an effortless process!   
Keep smiling not because of something,
but in spite of everything.

[HD] Animation : Flowers Bloom (ดั่งดอกไม้บาน) English version

[angel_star]

Keep smiling not because of something,
but in spite of everything.

What lovely words of wisdom! Thanks a lot for sharing this Priya. In the book 'The Power' Rhonda Byrne quotes Lao Tzu saying something similar as Buddha. It goes like this 'Muddy water, let stand, becomes clear'

[passionmax]

Thats lovely Priya. Very Inspiring!!!

[HelpingitHappen]

Been reading more of the Buddha lately. Amazingly simple yet so powerful to life itself. Thank you for reminding all who would read this, that your mind is under your own control, and how you treat and experience it is of the utmost importance to your happiness.

[zenmagic]

Thanks for sharing this great story Priya. I'm a Buddhist myself and I found this parable really useful and instructive, especially when dealing with overwhelming negative thougts that come into my mind. I also practiced Buddhist meditation quite regularly and being effortless is one of the key principle that I always apply in my daily practice.

Btw, sorry for asking specific questions, but can you tell me which Sutta this story is taken from? Because I really enjoy reading the suttas (teachings) by Buddha since they contain some powerful and inspirational messages and they also have helped me a lot especially in going through some difficults period in my life. Anyway, thanks again for sharing 

Felix
 

[57angel]

Thank you for sharing PriyaLoa that I have the choice to choose to calm my mind down despite everything