Once upon a time, there was a disciple who asked his master:
– What is the thing that separates me from the truth?
The master replied:
– You are not the only one separated from the truth; there are others as well. I will tell you twelve short stories that will seem simple to you. You must meditate on them constantly, and even if it seems like you understand them, do not stop meditating on them until these simple stories take on enormous proportions and then become simple again.
The First Story:
Once upon a time, there was a drop in the Ocean that said there was no Ocean. The same happens with many people. They live within God and say that there is no God.
The Second Story:
“I want to be free!” said the drop of water in the middle of the Ocean; and the Ocean, in its compassion, lifted it to the surface. “I want to be free!” the drop of water said again, and the sun, hearing its voice, placed it in a cloud. “I want to be free!” the drop said once more, and the cloud released it, and it fell back into the Ocean.
The Eighth Story:
Once upon a time, there was a drop that lamented its fate—for, after all, it was in the middle of the Ocean and knew nothing about the Ocean.
The Ninth Story:
A drop in the Ocean called all the other drops to join it in rebelling against the Ocean.
The Tenth Story:
“By the power vested in me,” said the drop in the Ocean, “from today, you are excluded from the Ocean.”
The Eleventh Story:
“You are in the midst of my love,” the Ocean said to the drop of water. But the drop did not hear the Ocean because it was full of love for another drop.
The Twelfth Story:
“If I could embrace every drop with my love, then I would become the Ocean.” As it thought this, the drop began to pour its love upon all the other drops, one by one. But there was one drop that had wronged it greatly, and though it was capable of great love, the drop could not forgive it. And because it could not pour its love upon this drop, it could not become the Ocean.
The Third Story:
An intellectual drop is an intellectual drop, but it no longer belongs to the Ocean.
The Fourth Story:
“No drop has any value,” said the drop in the middle of the Ocean.
The Fifth Story:
“Without a doubt, there is one thing I have realized: I am more important than the Ocean!” said the drop in the Ocean.
The Sixth Story:
“I will never be able to reach the Ocean,” said the drop in the Ocean.
The Seventh Story:
“Oh, what do I care about the Ocean,” said the drop in the Ocean.
The disciple asked his master:
And then, the wise master told him the final story:
– Once upon a time, there was a drop that sought the peace and depth of the Ocean. Its aspiration and power to forgive were great, and suddenly the Ocean said to it: “You and I are one.” The Ocean opened its vast arms and embraced the drop, and all that belonged to the Ocean became hers as well. The drop was filled with the peace of the Ocean, it spread across its entire surface, and through its depth, it became the salvation of the world.
– Know then, my dear one, that the Ocean is full of love for those who love it and that it welcomes into its greatness those who truly desire it.
– But what will happen if such a drop becomes dirty? – asked the disciple.
The master laughed heartily:
– A drop cannot become so dirty that the Ocean cannot cleanse it.
