The Boat and The River

In my imagination I am picturing myself in a small boat on a calm, wide river. It is a sunny, warm day and the breeze is just cool enough to keep the temperature comfortable. I can see both edges of the river, although what is beyond the edges is hidden by the tall reeds and the trees further behind them. It is a perfect day and a wonderful experience as I let the small boat drift downstream, slowly but surely. Today it hardly takes any effort at all to get to my destination…

Then I shift perspectives…

In my mind’s eye, I am the river. My surface is calm, and the reeds on my sides don’t even move as I gently find my way by them. Different kinds of fish call my waters home — each looking for a slightly different environment to thrive. Out here I am wide, and on this warm and sunny day there is hardly a ripple on my surface as I slowly move downstream. It doesn’t take any effort at all to move ever closer to my destination…

On this day the small boat and the river move together — ultimately to a shared destination. It doesn’t seem to make a lot of difference whether we choose to be in the small boat, or rather be the water in the river. After all, we are both heading downstream.

There are other days and different circumstances when what I sense with my inner senses turns out to be quite a bit different …

— The wind picks up, and ahead of me are big thunderclouds forming. I realize that I should get to shore for my small boat will not give me any shelter, and it may not be stable or even safe enough when the weather turns. I pick up the oars and start to maneuver my boat to the river bank, only to find that it is harder than I thought. The river seems to have stronger currents now. In the back of my mind there is a little voice saying: “Faster, faster! You are not going to make it!” And I feel a tinge of fear creeping into me…

— The wind is picking up, rippling my surface. Pretty soon the calmness will be gone as the thunder breaks. I feel anticipation. Already my waters are flowing faster, creating stronger currents. The fish are hiding now between the reeds on my banks. An in the back of my mind a little voice is saying: “Faster, faster! Let’s jump those rapids! Let’s splash down in an array of drops that will create a rainbow with each last ray of sunshine!” And I feel excitement and joy well up in me…

Now my imagination skips forward, and I see the boat and the river slowly closing in on their destination. The small boat is a little worse for wear, but clearly I was right to have faith in it, as it is safely delivering me to the ocean. To the One. And I feel a sense of achievement.

And the river transforms from the rippling serpent of water into the waves of the ocean. Into the One. And it emanates a sense of accomplishment.

It is as if they are asking me whether I am the boat, or the river…

What would you be? 

Would you be the river? 

Or the boat?