I wanted to share a nugget of a story with you today.
A retelling of an original parable ‘He Xie’ by *Ven. Master Hsing Yun, that found it’s way to me years ago.
On a rainy new years eve some time ago, there was once a small farming family who lived in a quiet rural village outside of a bustling city.
A humble family: a mother, father, a young brother, and an even younger sister, lived together in a small quaint home along the countryside.
After a heavy downpour had forced everyone inside, father focused on starting a fire to warm everyone. Wind and rain rolled against their weathered wooden door. As mother was getting brother and sister ready for bed, a sudden forceful knock broke the rhythmic trance of the rain.
“Who could that be at this time?” thought father.
Warily, he rose to investigate and slowly open the door.
He cracked it open and to his surprise he seen four elders huddled together for warmth.
Photo by Ahmed Hasan on Unsplash
Without prompt, the first elder told father with smiling eyes, “we were traveling through your village in need of shelter for the evening.”
“As you can see, there are four of us but we have a rule. Only one of us may enter. Would you please be so kind to allow one of us in?”
After taking brief counsel together, both father and mother decided to agree and allow one of the elders in.
“Thank you for your kindness, now you must choose which of us can take shelter for the night. I am wealth,” said the first elder.
“I am peace,” the second elder said calmly.
“I am success,” spoke the third elder.
“And I am harmony.” laughed the fourth elder.
Upon deciding, father dreamed of wealth, mother felt strongly for peace, and brother exclaimed success! Debating amongst themselves about who they should let in, they suddenly realized they had yet to ask sister who although quiet, very much wanted to join in. Encouragingly, mother and father asked sister who she felt they should choose.
“Harmony!” sister chimed with joy.
With a brief exchange of thoughtful glances, they turned back to the elders with their decision as a family.
“Who shall it be then?” asked wealth.
“We choose harmony.” mother and father sang with certainty.
Hearing their decision, Harmony nodded and floated through the door, and within an instant the other elders followed closely behind.
“Whats going on? Did you not say only one can be allowed in?” father asked puzzled.
Harmony laughingly replied,“Yes, we have another rule. Once you invite harmony in, peace, success, and wealth follows.”
Reflection
When I first came across this story a handful of years ago, I was struck with an ‘ohhh, I get it now’.
Unfortunately, not only did I completely forget where i’ve read the original parable, I forgot about this story until recently. Luckily I found a similar version of the original.
It was exactly what I needed in that moment though. Such a simple story centered around a simple principle.
To me the principle is to prioritize harmony, and all else falls into place. Sounds easy enough, right?
But what is harmony anyway?
A google search pulled up relations to musical chords and notes working together, which wasn’t quite hitting the spot. After digging a little deeper I found…
… as described from a **buddhist perspective: “Harmony (avirodha or sahita) is the smooth, pleasant and non-contentious functioning together, of two or more things.”
Taking us back to the end of the parable, sister was not only wishing harmony for her family in that moment of their debate, she was also being the very symbol of harmony; bringing the family together in a natural, unobtrusive way.
He who lives in harmony with himself lives in harmony with the universe - Marcus Aurelius
Yes, harmony can very much be a magical thing that shows up when folx come together for a common goal, and it can be developed for & within our selves.
So to the main principle of “prioritizing harmony.”
What can this [prioritizing harmony] look and feel like?
Some ideas are:
- Asking ourself, what’s flowing for me in life? What’s going well for me right now? (sometime’s focusing on either the ‘right now’ vs a larger picture can be easier)
- Pausing for a moment to sit with that.
- Focusing on feelings that come up in that moment. Maybe it’s a sense of alignment, contentment or something completely different.
Doing this often put’s me in an appreciative and grateful mood, conjuring all types of good energy within my body. Good vibes stand for something! It’s also helped me, like a compass, develop a clearer sense of direction towards what is (vs what isn’t) in alignment along my journey.
In what ways are you inviting harmony in your life?
With Love + good vibes
Gaelan