The Rock and the River

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There is a monastery that sits high in the mountains, surrounded on three sides by a forest. On the remaining side flows a river. A well-worn path winds its way up the mountain, following the twists and turns of the river.

One day a young man marched up the mountain path to visit the monks of the monastery. When he arrived, he saw a monk gazing out over the river. The young man approached the monk and said, “Excuse me sir, I seek wisdom.”

The monk turned to face the young man and gestured toward the rushing water, pointing to a large rock which sat at the centre of the river. He asked, “Are you the rock or the river?”

The young man looked at the rock and immediately replied “I must be the rock, steadfast against all that happens to me. Standing strong against the world. Thank you.” With that, he turned and returned down the mountain path, leaving the monk to look out over the river.

Several years passed. Snow fell in winter and melted in summer. The river rose and fell. Eventually the man returned up the path. He once again found the monk looking out over the river and approached, saying, “I tried to be the rock, but life has been difficult. I need more wisdom.” The monk gestured toward the river. He asked again, “Are you the rock or the river?”

The man hesitated. He looked at the river, watching it rush around the rock. After a moment he responded. “I was wrong. I have to be the river. The world is always changing, and I have to embrace that change and flow with it. Thank you.” Again, the man turned and left the monk standing beside the river.

The years passed and the man lived his life. He knew love and loss. Endured hardship and celebrated triumph. One day he returned to the monastery, expecting to find the monk standing by the river. All he found was a pebble lying on a freshly dug patch of earth. The man carefully knelt down and placed a wrinkled hand on the stone and read the words inscribed there “You must be both the rock and the river.”

Sighing, the old man said “It has taken me many years to realise the truth. We always have a choice. It is how we choose to respond that matters.” He stood up, brushing dirt from his trousers. As he turned and prepared to return down the mountain, he saw a young man walking up the path. The young man approached and said, “Excuse me sir, I am looking for wisdom, can you help?”

A smile crossed the older man's face and, gesturing towards the river, he asked, “Are you the rock or the river?”