Your Boulder

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Ajahn Chah, a Thai Buddhist monk of the Forest Tradition, was walking through a field with his disciples.  They came upon a large boulder, and he asked his followers,

            “Is this boulder heavy?”

            They responded, “Yes, teacher, it is very heavy.”

            Ajahn Chah smiled. “Only if you try to pick it up,” he said.

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Only if you try to pick it up.

If you stand on it and look around, you can see farther into the distance, and you might get a sense of the bigger picture.

If you gather sticks and build a fire on top of the boulder, the fire may serve as a beacon, drawing others to this place.

If you lean your back against it or sit on it, you can rest.

If you take a chisel and chip away at it, you may find precious minerals inside or create a beautiful sculpture.

If you hide behind it, you may find solitude, shelter, or safety.

If you plant flowers around it, you will create a garden.

If you join hands around it, you may find friends and build community.

Oh yes, and if you lift it together, combining your strength, ingenuity, and shared intention, you may discover it is lighter than you thought.

Here’s a boulder?  What will you do with it?