The Hole-y Bucket
छेद वाली बाल्टी , ( the hole-y bucket)द्वारा गोपाल दादा
एक शिष्य ने अपने गुरु से पूछा “ एक प्रश्न के उत्तर पाने की मैं काफी कोशिश कर रहा हूं -- मेरे जीवन का उद्देश्य क्या है?
ज्ञानी गुरु ने कहा” हम उस प्रश्न पे उचित समय पे आयेंगे| तब तक क्यों नहीं तुम इस ड्रम में , उस नीचे वाली घाटी के पास की नदी से, पानी लाकर भर देते हो | यह कह कर उन्होंने पानी लाने ले लिए एक बाल्टी दी जिसमे अनेक छेद थे और वह मिट्टी , गन्दगी एवं चिकनाई से लिपटी हुई थी |
उस परिश्रमी शिष्य ने वैसा ही किया| उसने पैदल, नीचे, उस घटी वाली नदी पे जा कर , अपनी छिद्रों वाली (hole-y) बाल्टी में पानी भर कर, ऊपर आकर, उस ड्रम में पानी भरना शुरू किया| गहन तल्लीनता से लीन होने के कारण वो बाल्टी के छिद्रों से पानी के रिसने को देख नहीं पाया |
दिन बीते , महीने बीते , पर वह उस ड्रम को पूरा भर नहीं पाया|
निराश और थका हुआ शिष्य फिर से गुरु के पास पहुंचा : “मैं इस बाल्टी से, इस ड्रम को कई महीनों से भरने का प्रयास कर रहा हूं, परन्तु यह ड्रम भरने के नजदीक भी नहीं है | ना जाने मेरे प्रश्न का उत्तर मुझे कब मिलेगा” |
दयालु ह्रदय से गुरु ने शिष्य का हाथ पकड़ा और उसे घाटी के रस्ते ले गया | यह वही रास्ता था जिससे वह शिष्य प्रतिदिन अपनी पानी भरने की असंभव प्रतिज्ञा के लिए जाता था | रास्ते की खूबसूरती दिखाते हुए गुरु कहते हैं “ कुछ महीने पूर्व यह बंजर ज़मीन थी| अभी देखो यह खिलता हुआ उद्यान है| प्रतिदिन जब तुम पानी लाते थे, तो शायद तुम्हे एहसास ना हुआ हो , तुम्हारी छेद भरी बाल्टी से, इस रास्ते पर पानी रिस रहा था | अभी तुम देख सकते हो इस जगह में फूलों एवं घास का बसंत खिला हुआ है| “
फिर उन्होंने उस बाल्टी को दिखाते हुए कहा” जब मैंने तुम्हे ये बाल्टी दी थी, तब यह मिट्टी से सनी , चिकनाई युक्त थी, और अंदर और बाहर दोनों से गन्दी थी| जितनी बार तुमने उसमे पानी उठाया , उतनी बार उसकी मिट्टी एवं चिकनाई धुलती चली गई|
बिना कुछ भी और समझाए, उस छात्र की समझ में आ गया | उसके मुख्य प्रश्न का उत्तर उसके ह्रदय से अपने आप निकल के आ गया “ मैं उस बाल्टी की तरह हूं जिसका ध्येय उस ड्रम को भरना है|मुझे शायद यह ज्ञात ना हो पा रहा हो कि मेरी अंदरूनी शुद्धि कैसे हो रही है या मैंने उन पौधों को अनजाने में पानी कैसे दिया है, पर किसी दिन एक दयावान व्यक्ति मुझे उस लहलहाते एवं खिले हुए उद्यान को देखने में मदद करेगा|मेरी समझ में आ जायेगा कि जीवन में प्रत्येक छेद का एक ईश्वरीय मायने होता है| तब, मैं बिना किसी फल की कामना के अपना कार्य करता चला जाऊँगा| मैं सिर्फ खुशी के लिए सेवा करता चला जाऊँगा|
मनन के लिए बीज प्रश्न: आप , इस छेदों से बहती हुई बाल्टी, वाली कहानी और उसका हमारे जीवन के मकसद से, क्या नाता देखते हैं ? क्या आप कोई कहानी साझा कर सकते हैं जहाँ आप को किसी ऐसे लहलहाते बगीचे का पता चला हो , जिसको आपने संयोगवश पानी से सींच दिया हो? बिना फल की कामना के कार्य करने में आपको किस चीज़ से मदद मिलती है |
Gopal Dada was a life-long teacher, volunteer and story-teller. His simple life experiences continue to be a lighthouse for many he touched through word of mouth.
SEED QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION: What do you make of the metaphor of the leaky bucket and its connection to the purpose of our life? Can you share a personal story of a time you became aware of the blooming garden you had watered accidentally? What helps you act without regard for outcomes or purpose?
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10 Past Reflections
On Aug 14, 2021 Julie wrote :
This reminds me that I have such limited sight, I can't see the whole purpose of every action- like a pluck of a web, the reverberations are sent along other strands, and fan out, to what end, I will never know.
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On Jul 16, 2021 Barbara wrote :
We all leave a trail in our lives.... Hopefully of kindness and Love.
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On Jul 16, 2021 Rohit Gohil wrote :
This article / reading has a profound learning message, thank you for sharing it. Unknowingly all of us are contributing positively in some way, that sometimes gets overlooked when we are chasing after things to fulfill desires, arising from a sense of incompleteness due to ignorance about ourreal identity. Performing our obligatory duties sincerely, as stated in the Bhagavad Gita, without expecting anything in return (outcomes) or any agenda is itself the purpose and gives meaning to life. We have been placed in a particular place with certain circumstances and people to do certain things so as to discover that real identity through the fulfillment of those obligatory duties.
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On Mar 25, 2021 Mair Alight wrote :
I receive messages through emails, texts, phone calls that buoy me.
I smile from all my cells.
I expand and feel gratitude that as I live my J.O.B. (Joy Of Being) the flow is part of me. The words nourish and delight me...
"You saved my marriage."
"What you told me made me want to live again."
"I've stopped using drugs to defend and define me."
"Thank you for being you."
My I.V. (Inner Voice) guides and guards me. I do my best to practice self-care and rest.
I show up for my life, the Life in me that serves the Life that lives Itself through means of me. I feel happy just to be. My teachers speak with my mouth.
I smile from all my cells.
I expand and feel gratitude that as I live my J.O.B. (Joy Of Being) the flow is part of me. The words nourish and delight me...
"You saved my marriage."
"What you told me made me want to live again."
"I've stopped using drugs to defend and define me."
"Thank you for being you."
My I.V. (Inner Voice) guides and guards me. I do my best to practice self-care and rest.
I show up for my life, the Life in me that serves the Life that lives Itself through means of me. I feel happy just to be. My teachers speak with my mouth.
1 reply: Rohit | Post Your Reply
On Feb 8, 2021 Craig wrote :
In the Mahabharata, the archery guru of all of the Pandava and Kauravas, Drona, gives a sieve to all of his students before the first day of class, and tells them that they will only be admitted to class once they can bring the sieve to class filled with water from the river. Drona privately told his son how to seal the holes of the sieve with clay before filling it with water, and so he is the only student who appeared for the first day of class, and Drona shared with him the most powerful and destructive weapon (a mantra) with only his son. Before the second day of class, Arjuna figured out the trick with the clay, and so could attend the lesson and begin his schooling with the master archery teacher.
In that story, the symbol of the leaking vessel might be interpreted as a human quality that prevents us from containing the teaching—whether of keeping the revealed secrets to one's self, or keeping the intimate inner spiritual relationship with the guru concealed.
This tal... [View Full Comment]
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On Feb 2, 2021 Brian Puida Mitchell wrote :
"Every leak has its own divine purpose". It's taken me a lifetime but it has gradually dawned on me that all the seemingly "blind alleys" or "wrong" choices were simply components of a life unfolding. As one chant has it: "Slowly blooms the rose within. Slowly blooms the rose within."
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On Feb 1, 2021 David T. Matta wrote :
The leaky bucket reminded me of the job I had and was not satisfied with and later quit. Aside from the material compensation, it was a waste ot time and a source of stress, I thought. But then, I met some of the people I worked with and found how they appreciated the advice and learning I gave to them then and that changed their lives. So the lesson is an activity may not be rewarding to you but it will for others that are affected by it. And this is good enough. Thank you, Gopal Dada.
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On Jan 30, 2021 David Doane wrote :
My graduate education was metaphorically a leaky bucket. I learned and it helped me get into my chosenprofession, but it had many holes in it. Then I discovered that my profession is also a leaky bucket. With both I learned and grew and my effortshavealso been of help to others. My viewpoint is that the purpose of life is to grow and blossom and help others do the same, and it's been to a great extent by using the leaky holy buckets of my education and profession that I've done some cleansing, growing, and helping others. I learned long ago that what helps me accomplish my purpose is being present and right action, and not be outcome or purpose driven. I have a lot of control over my action and little control over outcome My mantra has long been to attend to process, not outcome, and it has helped me.
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On Jan 29, 2021 Jagdish P Dave wrote :
What is the purpose of life is a perennialquestion asked by philosophers, mystics, sages, spiritual seekers and persons like me. Gopal Dada uses the metaphor of the Hole-y or leaky bucket and its connection to the purpose of life. Theleaky bucketrepresentsour imperfection, impurity and ignorance of ourown true identity, our true nature which is whole and and holy.Our spiritual practice makes us realize our true nature, our ever- blossoming pureconsciousness. As Mencius, a Confuciansage says," By exhaustivelyexamining one's own mind, one may understand his nature. One who understands his nature understandsHeaven."
To understand the inner world is the key to understanding the mind, myself, my true nature, and wisdom about life. I have to keep my inner eyes open to see the inner light. This is a life-long project. My daily practice of meditation develops qualities such as calmness, clarity and concentration, sensitivity, compassion and self-awareness.
Studying and practici... [View Full Comment]