The Parable of the Water Bearer

In the land where the clouds touch the sea, there once was a Young Woman.

She lived at the edge of the village and spent much of her days overcome by the obligations of her life. There were always too many tasks that needed her attention: family to tend to, a garden to nurture and work to be done. Every day felt the same.

One day, she noticed that there were those in her community who moved through life with a subtle joy. They were content with their lives and full of the hopeful optimism the Young Woman lacked.

She decided to set off on a journey to understand the source of their happiness and soon found herself under the guidance of a gentle teacher.

After some time simply spent doing the tasks of life with the Teacher, she asked him about the pathways to contentment.

“We must seek to facilitate ease instead of being points of friction,” exclaimed the wise Teacher.

What does this mean, Teacher?

“I will explain by telling you a story. Is that alright?”

“Of course,” she murmured. But in truth, the Young Woman was growing agitated. She had come to the Teacher to learn the lessons of the water bearers, to seek and know the gentle flow of their lives. Yet, now, this old man was to bore her with a story.

The Teacher began his tale. “In a land of rigid people, there was a Young Person who, like you, sought the answers to life in the water around them. They searched high and low for sacred rituals and ways to unlock their inner potential—especially the elusive gifts of peace and acceptance.

One day, they came upon a clan of very content people who lived at the mouth of a temperamental river. Everyone was generally kind and in good humor.

When the Young Person saw how at ease everyone was, they sought to learn their ways. However, despite their best efforts, they could never achieve the calm of the clan. With every passing day, they became discouraged until they met an Old Woman washing clothes at the edge of the river. Her face had the delicate lines of time etched into every corner, and her eyes twinkled with the vitality of a life well-lived.

As they spoke with the Old Woman, awareness seemed to awaken within them, and they asked, “Old Woman, tell me the secret of your joy. How do you remain so hopeful and open despite the difficulties of your life?”

The Old Woman responded with a command, “Fetch me some water from the other side of the river. I wish to have a deep, cool drink.”

Confused, the Young Person rushed to the other side to do as they were asked. However, they soon realized they had no bowl or cup to carry the water.

Upon returning to the Old Woman, they explained how they had no way to bring her water.

“Do you not have hands with which to carry the precious liquid of life?” Responded the Old Woman.

Looking down at their hands, the Young Person set out to bring the Old Woman water.

Once they reached the other side of the river, they scooped two large handfuls into both palms and rushed back to the Old Woman.

Surprisingly, they arrived empty-handed. As they stood before the amused Old Woman, she inquired, “Why did you turn your open hands into closed fists to bring me this water?”

“There is no other way to carry the water when I have no bowl or cup. If I had left my hands open, everything would have spilled.

“Hmph, is that right?” Asked the Old Woman.

“What do you now have left but the meager droplets of what was once a promising bounty?”

Discouraged, the Young Person turned to the river in complete hopelessness.

“Come with me,” whispered the Old Woman. And they walked together to the other side.

Upon their arrival, the Old Woman stood before the Young Person and instructed them to take both cupped hands and press them together to form a bowl.

“Now reach down and gather the water.”

As the Young Person dipped down and scooped up the fresh river water, they looked up, surprised. There in their palm was a full hand of water.

“Now, let us walk back to my side of the river.”

As they slowly walked, the Old Woman asked the Young Person to describe the sensation of water in their hand.

“It is both cool and comforting. The sensation keeps me connected to my body and mindful of the water. I can only think of how I am here, now with you, and there is no past, no future, only the present.”

The Old Woman nodded and then began to laugh.

“Why do you laugh at me, Old Woman?” Asked the Young Person.

“I am delighted that you have come to understand the secret of the water bearer. When you close your hands into tight fists, all of the water that you seek to protect will seep through the cracks of your forceful hands while you run towards your destination in an effort to arrive with a single drop. However, when you open up your palm and hold the water gently while mindfully walking to where you seek to be, you will arrive with a full offering.”

Then, the Old Woman produced two cups for the Young Person to pour into.

With that, the Teacher finished his story and looked at the Young Woman. “You see,” he said, “when you remain open to the possibilities of the problems before you, you can solve them in ways in which the solution is found inside the action of being present and purposeful. We were not made to rush through this life with clenched fists. Let us always find our hands cupped in prayerful gratitude. Ready to receive whatever awaits us on the other side of where we find ourselves.”

And with that, the Teacher rose to leave. As he shuffled away, the Young Woman ran to him with an awakened spirit and embraced him.

“Thank you for giving me the gift of the tale of the water bearer and the wisdom of peace and acceptance.”

You see, when we hold on too tightly to what we believe we need or pursue the vision of our lives without the thoughtfulness of Spirit’s guidance, we find ourselves searching for the very thing we could have if we simply remained open.

There is a power to staying hopeful that is inaccessible when we find ourselves in despair. We must always direct ourselves to the possibilities that exist within the light.