You Can't Learn Fishing From a Fish
You want to learn to catch a mouse?
Don't try to learn from a pampered cat.
If you want to learn the nature of the world,
Don't study fine bound books.
The True Jewel's in a coarse bag.
Buddha-nature stops at huts.
The whole herd of folks
Who clutch at looks of things
Never seem to make the connection.
— Shih Te (8th c.)
Gentle seas, does not a skilled sailor make. In society, we have grown accustomed to the idea that people will be gentle with us. We've grown to love the notion that when people are gentle, they respect us. I would like to propose the opposite is true. Those who put us through trying times are often the ones who most want us to succeed: If you have two children, one with great potential and the other with none, and you scream at the one with potential to make him see that he is failing but do nothing to the one with no potential, which kid's success do you care most about?
Those who are critical of us, expect us to be better human beings than we are. For this gift, an expression of gratitude is in order.
This reminds me of the quote "all that shimmers is not gold." As in, the things that we think are best for us, often don't look that way at all.
Really enjoyed the perspective you shared here. I very much agree with what you're putting down. Would love to hear your thoughts regarding my recent post about seeing the "bad" things in our life as empowering gifts: Will You Open Your Gifts In Strange Wrapping Paper?
A Nigerian writer, Tai Solarin, once wrote that the best greeting one could receive at the beginning of a new day is "May your road be rough" because those who have things easy can't achieve real and lasting success. So, brother, May your road be rough. 😀
Yours as well, mate.
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