Two Stories

Two Stories. One apocryphal. One not. I will let you discern.

When African hunters want to capture a monkey, they carve a hole in a tree that has an opening just large enough for an average monkey's hand to fit through, and then they hollow it out by adding some additional width and depth. Then they create a trail of salt rocks - like sugar for monkeys - leading up to the tree, and then place a few in the hole as well. An unsuspecting monkey comes along, finds a salt rock and then follows the trail to the tree, eating along the way, whereupon they put their hand in the hole and grab the salt rocks within. The monkey's open hand fits through the hole on the way in, but it's closed fist does not fit through the hole on the way out. At this point, the hunters surprise the monkey, thereby causing him to clench his fist even further, thereby capturing himself.

We trap ourselves by our unwillingness to let go of what we have.
We subvert the whole for the part.

A famous Guru in India gave a Friday night talk at a local community center about finding inner peace and happiness. The talk went into the late hours of the evening. After it concluded, a man from the audience approached the Guru and asked if he could speak with him privately. The Guru replied, "It is very late, and I get up very early, so I don't have much time, but tell me what is on your mind." The man begins, "My life is meaningless. I have nothing in it that brings me joy. I have no reason to live. I suffer every day and have reached the point where I would rather be dead." The Guru reflects for a moment and replies, "I can help you, but our first conversation will be a long one, so I will clear my schedule for you. Come to my house at 5am tomorrow, and we will spend the entire day together." The man replies, "5am? That is too early. I like to sleep in on Saturdays."

We keep ourselves trapped by clinging to our habits and our identities.
Even in the face of urgency.