Shakyamuni Fables (5) | Getting thirsty on seeing water (captions)

Story | Once there was a fellow desperately in need of water for his thirst. On seeing the blazing fog, he mistook it for water. He pursued it until he reached the Indus River. But he only looked at it without drinking.

Point0fMU: In these four sentences the play of “This is suffering,” - the Buddha’s first noble truth - unfolds.

‘Thirst’ represents a desire to hear and learn the Dharma which emerges like a lotus blossom and transcends sensual pleasures. In other words, the fellow is parched/burned due to seeking out sights, sounds, smells, tastes, touch, and thoughts.

‘The blazing fog,’ represents the manifold expression of the Dharma encountered in life whether that be in the form of Pop-Buddhism, Buddha Images, Buddhist Commentaries & Shastras, and Sutras - even as small as a 4-Line Gatha.

‘Pursuing’ the blazing fog, in this context, represents the fundamental step of walking the path to enlightenment - hearing the Dharma.

‘Drinking’ the water represents the paramount step of walking the path to enlightenment - practicing the Dharma

Story (cont.) | A bystander asked, "You are suffering from thirst. How that you have found water, why don't you drink it?" The fellow answered, "If I could drink up all that water, I would do it. Since there is more water than I can finish, I would rather not drink it at all."

Point0fMU: ‘The bystander’, represents a beneficent friend providing advice.

Story (cont.) | As soon as people heard this, they laughed aloud at him. The heretics, acting against all senses and reasons, think since they are unable to keep all the Buddhist commandments, they refuse to accept any of them. They will never attain the path of Enlightenment and thus subject to transmigration in time to come. They are just like that stupid thirsty fellow who gets laughed at by his contemporaries.

Point0fMU: Whether the Buddhadharma trickles in, drop by drop, or becomes a mighty river it is important to remember to put good advice into action. Pursue the Dharma - apply the Dharma little by little - in time an entire river can be drunken in a single gulp!