On a hot day, summer – Buddha feels thirsty. He asks Ananda, “Ananda, I am sorry but you
will have to go back. Two or three miles back we have left a small stream of water, and I am
very thirsty: you go and bring water.”
Ananda said, “There is no need to feel sorry. This is my joy – to serve you in any way. You
rest under this saal tree, and I will go.”
He went back. He knew exactly where the stream was; they had just passed it. And when they
had passed by the side of the stream, it was crystal-clear – a mountain stream has a clarity of
its own. But when Ananda returned to take the water, two bullock carts had passed through
the stream, and the whole stream was muddy; all the mud that was settled on the bottom had
risen to the surface. Old leaves, rotten leaves, were floating on top. He could not think that he
could take this water for Buddha to drink.
He returned and said to Buddha, “I could not bring that water for you, but don’t be worried.
Four miles ahead you can rest; I know a big river, and from there I will bring water ”
Buddha said, “No, I want the water from that stream. You unnecessarily wasted time; you
should have brought the water.”
“But,” Ananda said, “the water is dirty and muddy; rotten leaves are floating all over it. How
can I bring it?”
Buddha said, “You go and bring it.”
Ananda went back reluctantly, but was surprised: by that time the leaves had moved. The
water was continuously flowing, and it had taken the leaves away; the mud had settled down
– just a little was left. But Ananda then suddenly understood; he sat by the side of the stream.
He waited, and soon the water was perfectly clesr. He brought some back.
Ananda was crying. He said, “ Now I understand. I when I went the first time and saw two
bullock carts passing just ahead of me, just in front of me, disturbing the whole stream, I
went into the stream to settle it. And the more I tried to settle it, the more it became unsettled. The more I walked into it, the more mud came up, more leaves. You were teaching me a method. Sitting by the side of that small stream I learned “
”Because as the stream was getting clearer, there was nothing else to do. Suddenly the
parallel came to my mind: perhaps the mind is also in the same situation. You have just
to sit by the side and let the mind settle down. It settles, but not by fighting. To fight
with the mind is to give energy to it; to fight with the mind is to keep it alive.”
Just sit and watch – no judgment, no appreciation. Do not say anything about the mind: that it
is crazy, that it is ugly, that it is disturbing my peace, that it is the only barrier to my spiritual
growth. Don’t say a single word; just watch – that is the key, the secret, golden key.
Whenever you can, sit silently and watch the mind… and soon a few things will start
happening. So don’t be in a hurry, and don’t be impatient.
Just sit by the stream of your mind.
Don’t do anything; nothing is expected from you.
You just keep quiet, calm, as if it is none of your business. What is happening in the
mind is happening somewhere else.
The mind is not you; it is something else: YOU ARE ONLY THE WATCHER.
ANAND NIGAM’S NEXT ROUND OF TUESDAY EVENING ZOOM CLASSES
BUDDHA HIS LIFE AND TEACHINGS – INSPIRATIONS FOR
TUESDAY WEEKLY MEDITATION ZOOM CLASSES WITH ANAND NIGAM
February 18th to May 27th, 2025
https://www.stillnessinyoga.com/event/tuesday-weekly-meditation-zoom-classes-with-anand-nigam/
