Why is more not enough?

There was once a stone cutter who was dissatisfied with himself and with his position in life.

One day he passed a wealthy merchant's house. Through the open gateway, he saw many fine possessions and important visitors. "How powerful that merchant must be!" thought the stone cutter. He became very envious and wished that he could be like the merchant.

To his great surprise, he suddenly became the merchant, enjoying more luxuries and power than he had ever imagined, but envied and detested by those less wealthy than himself. Soon a high official passed by, carried in a sedan chair, accompanied by attendants and escorted by soldiers beating gongs. Everyone, no matter how wealthy, had to bow low before the procession. "How powerful that official is!" he thought. "I wish that I could be a high official!"

Then he became the high official, carried everywhere in his embroidered sedan chair, feared and hated by the people all around. It was a hot summer day, so the official felt very uncomfortable in the sticky sedan chair. He looked up at the sun. It shone proudly in the sky, unaffected by his presence. "How powerful the sun is!" he thought. "I wish that I could be the sun!"

Then he became the sun, shining fiercely down on everyone, scorching the fields, cursed by the farmers and laborers. But a huge black cloud moved between him and the earth, so that his light could no longer shine on everything below. "How powerful that storm cloud is!" he thought. "I wish that I could be a cloud!"

Then he became the cloud, flooding the fields and villages, shouted at by everyone. But soon he found that he was being pushed away by some great force, and realized that it was the wind. "How powerful it is!" he thought. "I wish that I could be the wind!"

Then he became the wind, blowing tiles off the roofs of houses, uprooting trees, feared and hated by all below him. But after a while, he ran up against something that would not move, no matter how forcefully he blew against it - a huge, towering rock. "How powerful that rock is!" he thought. "I wish that I could be a rock!"

Then he became the rock, more powerful than anything else on earth. But as he stood there, he heard the sound of a hammer pounding a chisel into the hard surface, and felt himself being changed. "What could be more powerful than I, the rock?" he thought.

He looked down and saw far below him the figure of a stone cutter.

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Comments

[I TAKE OFF THE MASK]

This is very nice! Witty and meaningful :-) The stonecutter already has power in his hands in the first place. Quite often with us, we seldom recognize the power we already possess.

[Jannie Funster]

This reminds me of the peace I feel today.

I like being me in this place.

Woudn't trade me for the world.

My consciouness is raising daily.

I feel my life has just begun.

Whoo-hoo!

[Alexys Fairfield]

Hi Liara,

This story is rock solid. It illustrates the power of thought and the universe.

We often think that we want something else, not realizing that our happiness in right in front of us.

[Liara Covert]

Jocelyn, each human being is in the process of reclaiming untapped inner power. The conditioned tendency to compare to other people simply distracts you from what you already have and do not choose to use to expand yourself. Paulo Coelho's classic tale, The Alchemist, reformulates a similar idea. Human beings often embark on journeys and pilgrimmages in search of something they believe is only obtainable somewhere they are not. The common revelation is often arrived at once they return to where they started. People come full circle.

[Liara Covert]

Jannie, nice to feel the positive vibrations you choose to share. In gratitude for your uplifting energy here.

[Liara Covert]

Alexys, as you astutely observe, happiness is not a destination. It is experienced by choice, at every stage of every journey. A person decides to appreciate where he is and who he is or, not. The reasons he does not are worth reflection.

[Alexys Fairfield]

Liara,

Sometimes we are just between a rock and a hard place. ;D

[Hilary]

Hi Liara .. wonderful parable .. so true .. and as they say - what comes around goes around - seems appropriate here ..

Thank you for this ..
Hilary Melton-Butcher
Positive Letters

[Anne Partain]

I am sooo glad this guy realized he wants to be himself. Sometimes I have to go over hill and dale, but I am so thankful that in the end, I always remember to love me for me. He is a happy guy now! He finally gets it! And I'd say he is rock solid in his knowing for his trouble. :)

Valuable story, thanks my friend.

[Liara Covert]

Hilary, every human being is at some stage like this stone cutter. To choose to see the humor in your own behaviour is very empowering. Life need not be a vicious circle.

[Liara Covert]

Anne, appreciate your visit. Its reassuring to realize each of us has our own inner sight to direct us in meaningful ways. Every choice is a worthwhile experience for all we are able to learn and grow. Each diversion stetches possibilities and empowers people to redefine the advantages in where they are. As is said, "its all good."