I discussed in my earlier blog that a creative, conscious, and growth mindset would set us up to realize our “true self.” However, to achieve this stage, we must understand why being like water is so profound in our path to expansion. #neverarrive
Lao Tzu, the famous Chinese philosopher, says in the nearly 2,000-year-old scripture, Tao Te Ching, Chapter 8, “The best quality/character is like water. The water’s goodness is that it benefits myriad things but does not quarrel, and it willingly goes to where others hate; thus, it is almost like the Dao.”
However, Bruce Lee developed the philosophy of “be like water.” It gave the world a more relatable yet the MOST IMPORTANT wisdom to progress in the direction of your TRUE SELF, the one cosmos intended to create.
Earth is three-fourths water, and so are we. Is it possible that nature intended this because of a specific reason?
Two years ago, I accidentally stumbled upon a YouTube video of a Bruce lee interview, which had an intense impact on my thought process. Bruce Lee summarizes (must watch) in the famous “The Lost Interview” on Pierre Berton Show in 1971:
“Empty your mind, be formless, shapeless, like water. Now you put water into a cup, and it becomes the cup. You put water into a bottle, and it becomes the bottle. You put it in a teapot, and it becomes the teapot. Now water can flow, or it can crash! Be water, my friend.”
Bruce Lee inadvertently discovered the magic of being like water while on a sailing trip. His coach Yip Man once punished him for his short temper and asked him not to practice Kung Fu for a week. Lee, out of frustration on the boat, punched the water hard. This was when Lee realized his master’s teaching, where he asked him to be calm and detached.
Bruce Lee later mentioned that however hard he would hit water or try squeezing or kicking it, water would instantly turn back to its shape. Water was formless and shapeless. It takes the form of any object you put it into or even gives a reflection of anything looking at it. However, it doesn’t get attached.
He also explains that while the water is calm, it is not weak. Even a continuous water drip on a solid rock can crack it open. Water can be ferocious and destroy the most challenging thing ever seen by humanity.
The lessons are imperative, and when applied to our being, we are on the way to joyful yet limitless emotional, mental, and spiritual expansion.
Adaptability – A formless mind can push the horizon of human potential. Water’s formless and shapeless characteristic helps it flow around obstacles, remain flexible, nourish life, and take any form it desires or needs. The water can also make its way through anything by forcing itself. Water turns to ice when cold and vapors when hot.
Remember when we were kids? We could be anything because we were unconditioned and had limitless potential ready to be unleashed. However, as life progressed, we got identified with just a handful of beliefs, which created a delusion, a self-isolating barrier, preventing us from accepting new sets of knowledge and often opportunities.
Therefore, a mind not identified with one pre-determined identity, including but not limited to religion, profession, nationality, relationship, career, etc., will be flexible, open-minded, and prepared to take on life as it is thrown to him. More importantly, this will allow the being to give direction to its life for continuous expansion.
Involved, not attached – Water combines with everything and takes on the color and some characteristics. Water keeps moving and finds its way. Water stored with a boundary often gets dirty. Similarly, we are just pieces of this infinite game called life. However, we get entwined almost every time with many things stalling our emotional, physical, financial, mental, and spiritual evolution.
Bruce Lee gives an example from his sailing trip enlightening experience. A bird flew by and cast its reflection on the water. Bird, when it flew far, the water did not have the shadow anymore. Lee says, “should not the thoughts and emotions I had when in front of an opponent pass like the reflection of the birds flying over the water?” The lesson is not to let go of any emotion, action, or involvement but to not let these become sticky or attached unless you want to adopt them consciously as part of yourself.
As I discussed above, we become too attached to what others think of us and even with others to the extent that it starts hurting us. The mental arrest is such that we don’t want to let go of these notions, which become detrimental to our well-being. That’s where be like water comes in – involved but not attached. We need to enjoy life with social interactions, but how many imprints they leave on us should be defined by our consciousness.
Ancient Hindu scripture, Bhagwad Gita, says, “You have the right to action, but not to the fruits. Each of us is obligated to act rightly but has no power to dictate what is to come of what we do.”
Water’s nature reflects the same as it does what it needs to do selflessly. It merges with other things to become them. You drink water, and it becomes you. Similarly, add water to any drink, and it becomes that drink. No one then says it is water anymore. This teaches us to do what we can do best in a situation with our full involvement but not get attached to the outcome.
Remaining strong yet malleable like flowing waters will not only allow you to reach goals but also give rise to new ones along the way – making sure there’s always something new challenge waiting on the horizon while maintaining a balance between inner peace & outer success!
In conclusion, taking inspiration from nature–specifically from the water helps us accelerate toward reaching our highest potential. Not only does this provide clarity during times of uncertainty, but it also serves reminder stay centered & focused even amidst the most brutal storms.
Come along, and let’s make a difference by spreading the word.
P.S.: Remember, there is no sky. Those who say the sky is the limit don’t know there is no such thing. No one knows where the cosmos starts or ends. This implies that our potential is limitless. Similarly, don’t think outside the box; think as if there is no box.
But keep your feet grounded. Being humble is paramount!
#neverarrive #limitlesspotential.
I’m grateful for your time in reading this blog. In the comments section, let me know your experience and perspective on the subject. Please share the blog with your friends if you enjoyed reading it.
