I've been reading a book called "Everyday Zen" by Charlotte Joko Beck. The book has an interesting story to ponder. It goes like this.
Say you're on a lake in your rowboat that you just painted and you're taking it out for the first time. The lake has a little fog on it.. not too much fog but just enough to make visibility difficult. As you're rowing, enjoying your time on the lake suddenly another rowboat comes out of the fog and is headed straight for your boat. Instantly you start screaming to the other boater... "look out.. what are you doing?" Then the boat smashes into your newly painted boat. You are so upset that someone would do this to you and your boat. How on earth would someone be so careless to let this happen. (Just imagine how angry you'd be.) Well this is when you realize that the other rowboat is empty. How do your feelings/anger change? Are you still mad at the other boat. After all it is just an empty boat. I have read the book and understand what the authors point is. I am just wondering what you think and how you'd feel. If you read this story, please don't hesitate to comment. I'd really like to know how you'd react.
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5 comments:
How do you know you weren't the one that rowed into the other boat?
Anyways, how can row-boats be propelled fast enough to cause much damage if they rammed each-other? I guess the new paint might get scratched?
I would just say "wow, thick fog." but then I can't ever see myself out on a lake, in a row boat, alone, that I had painted...because I would be very lonely. I think I would be sad that no-one was in the other boat. Then I would go home and blog about the experience and eat something.
You completely missed the point Mr. science.... For you the other boat was propelled the power of your mind... you happy now?
Hey Kevin,
I think I'd feel like an idiot yelling at a boat that has no rower. Kind of like I feel when I yell at Michael Anne for doing something that in all actuality is totally normal for a little child to do. They don't mean to cause you harm or make you mad...it's just something that happened. Later you feel like a jerk for letting yourself get worked up over something that really doesn't matter.
A similar thing happened to me today. I was driving home from work and some "crazy" lady wasn't paying attention to her lane that merged into mine. I had to slam on my breaks to avoid a full on sideswipe. I hadn't seen the driver yet and I wanted to pull up next to the other car and flip her off or say something rude. Then I actually thought...living here in Utah this could really happen...what if I drive up, flip the driver off and then look over and see President Hinckley! Boy I'd feel like an idiot. How could you take back flipping off the Prophet. I think you could seriously count yourself off any "good" list there might be! And for what...a little scraped paint that the insurance company I've been paying all these years for nothing would cover.
Anyhow, that's my take. Good question.
Maybe you are deeply relating to this story ever since we suggested you sit in a boat, with your Kestrel, in that lake near Kunsan:-)
OMG Chuck... i laughed my ass off... if you read this post... email me at
kevintchurch@gmail.com
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