Walking on water

It is said that Jesus walked on water. Devout Christians believe in it. Like an actual, historical incident that took place. It is also said that Rama’s monkey army created a bridge of floating rocks that helped him cross over to the island of Lanka and defeat the evil Ravana. Devout Hindus believe in it.

Believers, whether Christians or Hindus, would strongly disagree with me, and nowhere I’m trying to contest their beliefs, but for me, I believe that our ancestors were wise and creative enough to realise that complex metaphysical or meditative concepts are best understood as simple stories. That, to reach a layperson, you don’t need academic erudition, but simple, everyday parables. It just happened that as the centuries passed by, the stories took the form of histories.

But why am I thinking of Jesus and Rama and the whole notion of walking on the water today? It comes from this book I’m reading, ‘The Art of Happiness’ by His Holiness The Dalai Lama and Howard C. Cutler.

While talking about happiness (the real, deep-seated stuff and not momentary pleasures) His Holiness mentions that we can train our minds for it. He says, “Within Buddhist practice there are various methods of trying to sustain a calm mind when some disturbing event happens. Through repeated practice of these methods we can get to the point where some disturbance may occur but the negative effects on our mind remain on the surface, like the waves that may ripple on the surface of an ocean but don’t have much effect deep down.”

And humbly he continues, “And, although my own experience may be very little, I have found this to be true in my own small practice. So, if I receive some tragic news, at that moment I may experience some disturbance within my mind, but it goes very quickly. Or, I may become irritated and develop some anger, but again, it dissipates very quickly. There is no effect on the deeper mind. No hatred. This was achieved through gradual practice; it didn’t happen overnight.”

Krishna says more or less the same thing in Shri Bhagavad Geeta. He calls it ‘Samta.’ That the true path to liberation lies in being ‘Sam’ (pronounced as sum), that whatever life gives you, happiness or sadness, riches or troubles, don’t let it affect your inner, deeper self. (Adding as a Mandalorian fan, “This is the way.”)

Coming back to the parables of walking on water or the bridge of rocks floating above the sea, aren’t Jesus and Rama telling me the same thing?

That, I can create miracles if I train to stop my mind from getting affected by everything that comes my way. That, to go out and conquer the world outside, first I must learn to float above the commotion inside. That, there is a deeper, truer, happier, more peaceful me, and that it is possible to achieve this state of being.

Easier said than done? You bet!

But at least I can try…try walking on water.