Fill It Up

We like to think that we can fill up our life, or perfect our life, with material things. Is this true? It may be true, but unfortunately it gives us no permanent satisfaction because things are impermanent. Things always disappoint us. For example, we long for something and get that thing. Then another thing comes to our attention and we think, "This thing disappoints me. I am fed up with this thing. I want something new." This thought occurs to us again and again. How then could we better fill up our life? The answer is that there is a path for each of us. Before I say more about this, I would like to tell you a story, which gives a good example of what I want to say. Here is the story:

There were once two princes who studied under a wise old teacher. They studied with him for years, until one day they were required to have tested what they had learned from him. The old teacher told them about the exam, "There are two empty rooms which I want each of you to fill up. Let’s do it now." The first prince filled the room with material things that were luxurious. So the room was full of precious things. He thought that he would pass the exam and get a good grade from the teacher. The second prince didn’t put anything in the room. He lit a candle and then the room was filled with light.

When the old teacher came to check the rooms, he said, "You both pass the exam!" The two princes wondered how they had both passed the exam because what they had filled the rooms with was totally different. They asked him with respect, "Sir, we wonder how we could both have passed the exam." He said, "You passed the exam because you were both able to fill up the room with things, either material, or immaterial. They said, "But what we filled up the rooms with was totally different." The old teacher said, "The differences are a result of how you both understand life and look at life. Life is comparable to the empty rooms which you filled up with things. If you fill it with material things, life will be more difficult; but if you fill it with immaterial things, your life will go more easily." Then the two princes understood both the lesson and more about life. After that they went back to their homeland with empty hands, but full of right understanding.

Do you understand life like the two princes? Here there is a greater understanding and fuller explanation of what is required to meaningfully fill up one’s life. The human mind is imperfect, so materiality cannot fill it up, only wisdom can. We should leave our mind empty, unoccupied by greed, hatred, expectation, and fill it up with the light of wisdom which can show us the way to peace and happiness.

A mind, which is full of materiality, is heavy and difficult; and a mind, which is empty, is light and easy going.