'I was once a sleeping ocean and in a dream became jealous of a pond' - Saint Rabia
On a warm sunny evening while I was sitting in my backyard breathing in the clear sweet air which was filled with the perfume of the fresh green grass I happened to read these words in a book of poems written by saints across the ages and places. I read these words and smiled. A knowing smile that I knew existed in the depths of my being but lately had been buried under feelings and emotions of anxiety and hopelessness.
We are the ocean with all that we have. In the depths of our soul shine so many pearls of wisdom enclosed in the shells of challenges which we know as emotional pain and psychological troubles. Skillful opportunities masquerading as divers dive deep and far to seek these pearls and free them of the baggage of perceived troubles. Once each pearl is free it rises to the surface of our ocean waiting for the waves to bring them ashore. Once on the shore they are available for the world to benefit from. Those who are wise will seek the pearls from all the oceans and weave a necklace of experiences wearing it around their neck as a constant reminder of the various lessons each one offers.
We are the ocean who has much inside it to offer to ourselves and to others. But ever so often we forget our magnitude and drift off in a deep slumber of inaction. The winds of change stir our water the wrong way. In stead of beautiful soaring waves they create storms of loss and negativity. We get carried away in this illusion of doom and gloom. Our might and magnitude loses its value and everyone else appears better to us. This illusion lends to our dream a vision of falsehood which we are unable to see through. The dream is so real even a pond appears mightier. Other people appear to have it better than us or more than what we have to work with.
But what is a pond to an ocean? A drop at best. The dream can only last as long. The moment we smile that knowing smile that knows our own might we are free from the sleep. We are awake to our own potential and wisdom. There is no longer any reason to be jealous of any other pond and the depths of our souls is all we need to take on every opportunity.
We are to only look inside us for the treasures hidden. Only we have the potential to take us places we need to be. There is no reason to be jealous of any ponds for what is a pond to an ocean? A drop at best.
