Be like Water

In our religion, God compares the mind with water. Evil (greed, arrogance, and self love) is compared to dirt. When we have greed, arrogance and self-love in our minds, it is like muddy water. When our minds lack these evils, the water is clear and pure. Let us look at the properties of water. First water is clear. One can see through it, without much distortion. Water is also light. It has a density of 1. It has a capability of taking the shape of the container it is in.  In can adapt to the environment by changing into gas, liquid or solid. A clear mind, like water is able to see and understand any situations, and is able to detect guidance when given. It is able to adapt like water to any obstacles (causality, karma, chance, etc.), and is optimistic (light hearted).

What happens when you put dirt in water? One cannot see through muddy water. Images that are in the muddy water will become distorted. If more dirt is placed, objects in the water are not perceptible by sight. Muddy water does not easily take shape of the container it is put into. It is more difficult to change it into different physical features like clear water.  It is not potable, and infections begin to grow. The mind that is infested with evil (greed, arrogance, and self love) cannot understand any situations. It is closed minded to everyone, and like the muddy water does not let light (guidance from God) pass easily through. A person who has evil in his heart does not adapt like muddy water to any situations (karma, causality, chance, etc.), and becomes depressed (heavy hearted) when these obstacles arise.  They like muddy water are said to attract the bad qualities (infections).

In our religion, we have a prayer to ask God to sweep away the evils (greed, arrogance, and bad), so that our minds will become clear like water. God answers our prayers by guiding us. That is why we must be open to any occurrences that may occur in our lives.  God may be trying to guide us.  If you are familiar with martial arts, Bruce Lee was often quoted “ Be like Water”.  He may have been right.

“Evil sweeping, save us please, Universal Saving God“