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There is another point to consider. In a pond, there is a lotus flower which contains a certain amount of honey. But do the fish, frogs, crocodiles, and beetles of the pond realize this? Do they taste the honey? No, they do not. They do not take the honey and benefit from it. Why? Because they do not know that the honey exists. They eat only the mud and the mire, the mold, the insects, and the germs in the water. They leap around, play, jump, and wander around, but they do not take the point that is within the flower. They stir the pond, they come and go, and they catch and devour things within the pond, but they do not discover the honey. They do not taste that which is within. Although the lotus flower is in the pond, although honey exists in the flower, and although there are so many creatures in the pond, not one of them finds the honey and takes it. Meanwhile, from elsewhere, from a forest on the side of a rocky mountain, comes a tiny honeybee. It buzzes along, “Ree, ree, ree,” and takes the honey. There are so many creatures in the pond, so many beetles and insects, yet none of them taste the honey. But the honeybee comes along, does not hurt the lotus flower, does not hurt any other creature, gently sips the honey, and moves on. A wise person should go to God’s place in a similar manner. He should fly there, seat himself at the Source, and imbibe the honey. If he does so, that will be the taste. When you search for a wise man, it is the same. You must realize that this, here, is the world; this is maya, this is the pond—creation-pond. Within it are several points: crabs, crocodiles, foxes, dogs, fish, beetles, mud-eating creatures, worms, insects, viruses, and micro-organisms. Everything is here, each devouring the other. This is the world. And within this, you should seek a wise man, as the honeybee seeks the honey. All kinds of people gather around a wise man. This is the world. But what is the use? What is the use of being here like the creatures in the pond? Many creatures live in the pond: crocodiles, sharks, little fish, colored fish, beetles, and micro-organisms. Similarly, so many of us exist in this creation-pond. But what is the use in being here? Like the bee, we should know where the honey is, search for it, and take it. We should not look around and get distracted. A person who is on this quest will not look at the multitude; he will take the honey and depart. Though others may be all around, he simply identifies the honey, searches for it, and takes it. Like the honeybee, he will imbibe the honey without hurting the flower, the pond, or the creatures living in the pond. The honeybee sucks the honey and takes it back to the place where it should be stored. What can the bee do in the pond? The flower does exist in the pond, but what can the bee accomplish by staying there? Similarly, what can one do at the Fellowship? What is the use of joining the Fellowship? What is the purpose of being among this group? Each one catches another and devours him. One virus devours another, one fish catches another, a crab is killed by another, a shark is killed by another, and so on. While each creature continues to catch and consume another, and the pond is churned and disturbed, it is only the honeybee who knows the precise way to extract the honey. It is the same way in the Fellowship. Although many have gathered here, each one casts aspersions on another behind his back, and each one scolds another. Sometimes they even cast aspersions on the honey, saying, “There is no honey here. This is not a flower, just some other kind of plant.” This could happen here because of those who stir up the pond. But do all these people discern the honey? No, they do not. Only the honeybee knows. It heads straight for that point; it does not go toward anything else. It does not look around at things in the pond, it does not stop to look at the flower, it focuses only on the honey. This pond could be like that pond. People who stay here day and night could be like the creatures in that pond. People who stay at the Fellowship could be like that. Some people who have joined the Fellowship could also be like this. They will stir up the pond. However, there may be someone like the honeybee who flies in from elsewhere, extracts only the honey, relishes its sweet taste, and takes it to the place where it should be stored—the heart. If such a one imbibes the honey over and over again and collects it in his heart, he can give the honey to others. He can give it to children, he can benefit from it himself, and he can give everyone a taste of this honey. This is the honey of grace, the honey of wisdom, the honey of love, the honey of compassion, the honey of patience, the honey of forbearance, the honey of equanimity, the honey of the soul’s liberation. Only one who is in the same state as the honeybee can take the honey. It does not matter where he is, whether he comes here or whether he flies in from there; he will be able to take the honey only if he is in that state. Otherwise, there is no point in being here like the crocodiles, sharks, and beetles of the pond. These creatures climb over each thing and fall down, climbing on flowers and falling, climbing on tall objects and falling. They disturb this, and they jump into that. The same things also happen at the Fellowship. The human beings at this pond may also behave in this manner. If we keep investigating the happenings in the pond, we will be like the crocodiles, beetles, micro-organisms, and frogs who live in the pond but are unaware of the honey. Therefore, if we keep talking about the goings-on at the pond, if we continue to gawk at and inquire into these things, nothing will be gained. The honeybee scents the honey and comes directly toward it. It does not loiter. It takes the honey and returns to its own locale. A wise person should do the same. He who searches, he who has faith, he who has determination, he who has wisdom, he who delights in the honey will come in the same manner. Such a man is a wise one, a clever one, a believer who has certitude. He takes what he needs and leaves the rest. We should understand this. Do you understand my brother?
Article Source: http://www.wisdomarticles.com
Muhaiyaddeen, M.R. Bawa. The Fast of Ramadan. Philadelphia: Fellowship Press, 2000, 2005. 61-65. Bawa Muhaiyaddeen for over 50 years selflessly shared his knowledge with people of every race, religion—from all parts of the world. Want more powerful words of wisdom that stir the mind and heart? Please visit www.thegoldenwords.com and find what your soul has been craving. CLICK HERE
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