Dhamma Talks - Unity Is Power :: Buddhapadipa Thai Temple

Recently, I read a story about the Aztec people of Mexico, which is good. I would like to share it with you, here is the story:

A long time ago there was a great fire in the forests that covered our Earth. People and animals started to run, trying to escape from the fire. Our brother owl was running away also when he noticed a small bird hurrying back and forth between the nearest river and the fire. He headed towards this small bird.

He noticed that it was our brother, sparrow bird running to the river, picking up small drops of water in his beak, then returning to the fire to throw that tiny bit of water on the flame. Owl approached sparrow bird and yelled at him: "What are you doing brother? Are you stupid? You are not going to achieve anything by doing this. What are you trying to do? You must run for your life!"

Sparrow bird stopped for a moment and looked at owl, and then answered: "I am doing the best I can with what I have."

It is remembered by our Grandparents that a long time ago the forests that covered our Earth were saved from a great fire by a small sparrow bird, an owl, and many other animals and people who got together to put out the fire.

The story shows that when we encounter a problem, big or small, we must try to solve it without discouragement. If the problem is so big that we cannot solve it now, we can consult with a great teacher who knows the solution, and ask him for advice. And please remember no matter how good the advice is, if we don’t put it into practice, we cannot overcome any problem.

In this story, the great fire is compared to daily-life problems, big or small. To run away from the fire of human beings and animals is compared to the giving up of the problem. Sparrow bird’s running to the river, picking up small drops of water in his beak, then returning to the fire to throw that tiny bit of water on the flame is compared to making an effort to solve life-problems. To give a hand to put out the fire means to help each other when we encounter a problem or to get help from those who can help us. It is true that to help each other is great, and nothing is as uplifting as giving a hand. As we, humans, have to help each other in harmony and unity. Harmony and unity are great as the Thai proverb says “Harmony and unity are powerful”. So we should help each other to overcome any problem in life.