A bamboo story
It was a rich country with many beautiful gardens. In one of the gardens a bamboo grove flourished. A tall and majestic bamboo stood in the middle. Its commanding appearance made it the cynosure of all those who visited the garden. The owner of the garden, whenever visited it, used to stand before the bamboo grove, especially viewing the tall bamboo with full of appreciation. He used to tell himself, “What a combination of strength, nobility, charm and grace!” The bamboo would gracefully move enjoying the wind.
With the passage of time, the bamboo grew more and more commanding in form, and proud of the owner’s appreciation. When the wind is favorable, it would dance in joyous abandon.
One day, the master came to the garden and stood before the bamboo. His eyes showed appreciation. But this time there was something more. There was an expectation too. The bamboo noticed the difference and became curious. The owner spoke to the bamboo with a tinge of sadness but his words were sure and certain. He said, “Dear Bamboo, the time has come for me to use you.” Bamboo became very happy in having been spoken to by the owner. It said, “I am waiting, Master, to be of any use to you. Please tell me, what should I do?”
Owner: “I shall have to trim off all your branches and leaves. Then I shall have to cut you. I shall also have to split you.”
The bamboo became nervous. It asked, “Should you do all these to me? Can’t you use me without hurting me?”
Owner: “Not at all. As you are, you are only beautiful to look at. If you should serve the world and be useful, you have to submit yourself to all these sufferings. We actually melt the gold to remove its impurities. We pound the paddy to get the rice out of it. We dig the earth to get water. There is no gain without pain.”
Bamboo: (in a shivering voice) Is that so?
Owner: Yes. Without cutting you, I cannot make use of you.
The entire world heard this. Struggle, sacrifice and pain – From these only flow success and glory. This is unassailable law of Mother Nature!
The bamboo realized the difference between being just a decorative object and an useful object. It said, “I agree Master, Please make me useful.”
The owner trimmed off its thorny branches and used them to make a fence. The heap of leaves was promptly thrown into manure pit. The long piece of bamboo was split into two. The groove was made smooth by cutting the inner ridges at the nodes. One end of the bamboo channel was inserted at the bottom of the broad vessel placed near the well. The other end was linked with the mouth of a channel in the field that meandered throughout the field, watering plants on its way.
Everyday water would flow from the well to the thirsty plants through the bamboo channel. The bamboo felt like a mother feeding her babies. It is not moving now; it is not dancing now; it is not proudly standing tall now. It is on the ground half-buried. But it is useful now. It helps a number of plants grow.
Standing majestically tall, the bamboo had a stately beauty. Being humble on ground as a channel, it commands a divine grace.A
With the passage of time, the bamboo grew more and more commanding in form, and proud of the owner’s appreciation. When the wind is favorable, it would dance in joyous abandon.
One day, the master came to the garden and stood before the bamboo. His eyes showed appreciation. But this time there was something more. There was an expectation too. The bamboo noticed the difference and became curious. The owner spoke to the bamboo with a tinge of sadness but his words were sure and certain. He said, “Dear Bamboo, the time has come for me to use you.” Bamboo became very happy in having been spoken to by the owner. It said, “I am waiting, Master, to be of any use to you. Please tell me, what should I do?”
Owner: “I shall have to trim off all your branches and leaves. Then I shall have to cut you. I shall also have to split you.”
The bamboo became nervous. It asked, “Should you do all these to me? Can’t you use me without hurting me?”
Owner: “Not at all. As you are, you are only beautiful to look at. If you should serve the world and be useful, you have to submit yourself to all these sufferings. We actually melt the gold to remove its impurities. We pound the paddy to get the rice out of it. We dig the earth to get water. There is no gain without pain.”
Bamboo: (in a shivering voice) Is that so?
Owner: Yes. Without cutting you, I cannot make use of you.
The entire world heard this. Struggle, sacrifice and pain – From these only flow success and glory. This is unassailable law of Mother Nature!
The bamboo realized the difference between being just a decorative object and an useful object. It said, “I agree Master, Please make me useful.”
The owner trimmed off its thorny branches and used them to make a fence. The heap of leaves was promptly thrown into manure pit. The long piece of bamboo was split into two. The groove was made smooth by cutting the inner ridges at the nodes. One end of the bamboo channel was inserted at the bottom of the broad vessel placed near the well. The other end was linked with the mouth of a channel in the field that meandered throughout the field, watering plants on its way.
Everyday water would flow from the well to the thirsty plants through the bamboo channel. The bamboo felt like a mother feeding her babies. It is not moving now; it is not dancing now; it is not proudly standing tall now. It is on the ground half-buried. But it is useful now. It helps a number of plants grow.
Standing majestically tall, the bamboo had a stately beauty. Being humble on ground as a channel, it commands a divine grace.A
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