Waves Looking For Water

 

The wave does not have to look for water, because she is water.  You are what you are looking for.

Thich Nhat Hanh

I was reminded today of a beautiful analogy.  That we are all just waves looking for water.  When we seek our "happiness" out there in the external world of form we are, in a sense, looking for water in all the wrong places. When we are constantly grasping and clinging to all the objects of our craving, ducking and avoiding all the objects we think will disturb us...we are not viewing, thinking, speaking, acting, living, efforting, aware or concentrating in a wholesome, skillful way, in a   way  that will take us to that thing we really want...the water. We are  putting  our energy and effort into things that take us anywhere but there.  

We are like  waves yes...being swept up and pulled down, coming and going , blown around by wind and tide. If.we see ourselves as only one little wave on a vast and mighty ocean (as most of us do) this up and down and all around motion to our lives  feels exhausting and painful...creating fear, anxiety, frustration, guilt, shame, anger and despair. It  is indeed suffering. That is why we, as humans, seek pleasure and do what we can to avoid more pain.  So lost are many of us that we forget that the wave (this body, this mind we see as separate) originated from the ocean...that it is just an extension of it. The thing we truly want and need in our lives is peace, security, stability...and peace is the watery depths we long to float in. The wave wants this  water and fails to realize it is this water it is seeking.It is not separate from the ocean...it never was...so it never had to seek water...it always was water. 

There is no searching...no seeking required...just a realization of who we are. Once the wave realizes it is water, it automatically relaxes into the peace, stability and security of what it is and always was. It comes home; it comes back to its Self. Once we realize who we are beyond all the craving, grasping, clinging, pushing away, avoiding, defending, protecting this idea of a separate "little me"  and come back to  Self. 

This doesn't mean that the up and down momentum of Life is going to cease to be and that everything will be smooth sailing after that.  It just means that we, in this peaceful spacious place of water, of Self of Source...are no longer disturbed by the up and down momentum of Life.

All is Well!