Yellowing Rice

The world is often likened to something that is ephemeral, temporary, and full of trials. Many metaphors are used to describe life in this world, both in religious teachings, literature, and philosophy. These metaphors help humans understand the nature of the world and how we should live our lives. Various metaphors of the world are often used in various perspectives, as well as reflections that we can take from them.

• The World is Like a Shadow
  One metaphor that is often used is that the world is like a shadow. The shadow always follows its owner, but can never be caught or held. This illustrates that the world is always moving and changing, never able to be fully owned. People who pursue the world endlessly are like trying to catch a shadow that always moves away.
  From this metaphor, we can learn that pursuing the world alone without paying attention to spiritual values ​​will make us tired without any real results. The world must be seen as a means, not an end goal.

• The World is Like Sea Water
  The world is also likened to sea water: the more you drink, the thirstier you become. This metaphor illustrates the nature of the world that is never satisfying. People who are too attached to the world often feel that it is never enough, always wanting more, and ultimately get caught in a cycle of dissatisfaction.
  The reflection of this parable is the importance of having balance in life. Pursuing the world is fine, but it must be accompanied by an awareness of limitations and satisfaction with what is already owned.

• The World is Like a Market
  In many spiritual teachings, the world is also likened to a market. The market is a place where people come to buy and sell, but no one stays there forever. So is worldly life: people come, do their activities, then leave.
  This parable teaches us to make the most of our time. Like in a market, we must be able to choose what is valuable and what is just a waste. We must fill our lives with good deeds and charities that are useful, not just pursuing momentary pleasure.

Various parables about the world teach that this life is temporary and full of trials. The world is not the final destination, but a place to try and gather provisions for a more eternal life. By understanding these parables, we can be wiser in living our lives, balance the affairs of this world and the hereafter, and make the world a place to do good. That way, we can live life more meaningfully and mindfully.

The last one is the analogy of the world like yellowing rice. This illustrates that life in this world has a definite cycle, just like rice that grows, develops, turns yellow, and is finally harvested. The meaning of this analogy can be explained in several aspects:

1. Life Process
   Like rice that is initially green then turns yellow before being harvested, human life also goes through phases of growth, maturity, and finally towards the end of life. Nothing is eternal in this world, everything changes and has an end.

2. Simplicity and Humility
   The more rice is filled, the more it bends. This is a symbol that the more knowledge, experience, or wealth a person has, the more humble and less arrogant he should be. The world is only a temporary place, and arrogance will only bring someone down.

3. Readiness to Face the Afterlife
   When the rice turns yellow, it is ready to be harvested and provide benefits to many people. Likewise, humans should take advantage of life in the world to plant good deeds so that the results can be felt in the afterlife.

4. The Impermanence of the World
   The yellowing rice will eventually be harvested and cannot last forever. This symbolizes that worldly life is also impermanent. Worldly wealth, position, and pleasures are only temporary, so humans need to focus more on eternal things, such as charity and virtue.

This parable teaches humans to always be grateful, humble, and wise in living life, and to remember that the world is only a stopover before heading to the real life in the afterlife.