An Empty Boat
Theres a Zen story in which a man is enjoying himself on a river at dusk. He sees another boat coming down the river toward him. At first it seems so nice to him that someone else is also enjoying the river on a nice summer evening. Then he realizes that the boat is coming right toward him, faster and faster. He begins to get upset and starts to yell, Hey, hey watch out! For Petes sake, turn aside! But the boat just comes faster and faster, right toward him. By this time hes standing up in his boat, screaming and shaking his fist, and then the boat smashes right into him. He sees that its an empty boat.
This is the classic story of our whole life situation.
--Pema Chdrn, Start Where You Are from Everyday Mind, edited by Jean Smith, a Tricycle book
