Daily Dharma: Empty Boat

hmm, and is this saying that we have to move aside ourselves?   That what we see coming is empty with no pilot and we must make the moves ourselves to prevent difficulty or encourage positive experiences? 

It reminds me of my life right now.  I can imagine a boat coming toward me, faster and faster, and it makes me feel very insecure.  And so, this story says to me, I have the power, make the move and get out of the way.   You think?

Yes, I see your interpretation.  My first response is, yes, but whether he protested or not, he was still hit by the boat!  It “smashed right into him.”  And so, as we hear so often, resistance is futile?  Is it a fatalistic perception?  Perhaps he could have moved out of the way himself.

Nevertheless, I see your idea, as fighting and protesting the flow of your reality is a complete waste of time and energy.  A lesson I've learned well, as I personally have determinedly swam with all my might against white water rapids flowing downhill.  And all it did was exhaust me.  Once I surrendered, the flow started to make sense. 

will, i like the idea of surrendering, but in terms of this situation, what it says to me is that too often we rage against people or the universe instead of taking the simple steps to remediate our position. anger itself solves nothing.

Yes, I do see what you are saying.  We have to take responsibility for making a move ourselves.  I've experienced that anger is so destructive to the self, especially if the reason for that anger leaves us feeling powerless.  But ultimately we are our own self saboteurs, if we let the anger overtake us or rule us.  The boat is empy, we are yelling at no one but perhaps ourselves.  Yet in remaining immobile, and focusing our anger at the empty boat, we accomplish nothing but our own self destruction.