Being Present Stories - The Lion On The Path

Being Present Practice stories presents The Lion on the Path. How many times our heads are too busy to be in the present? Sometimes we need a Lion figure to stop us from thinking. There was a young woman. She was just about to get married the next day, and she was planning everything in detail for this wedding as it’s a traditional wedding. She lives in a beautiful jungle surrounded by trees and wildlife.....

Transcript

Thanks for joining our Being Present practice sessions.

I would like to introduce Being Present stories.

These are stories based on present practice.

This is the first one.

I hope you like it.

Welcome the lion on the path,

As told by Mooji,

Spiritual teacher.

There was a young woman.

She was just about to get married the next day and she was planning everything in detail for this wedding as it's a traditional wedding.

She lives in a beautiful jungle,

Surrounded by trees and wildlife.

As the wedding is imminent,

She must make the final arrangements.

In her mind,

She is busy running through her checklist.

First,

I must go to the cake maker.

And after the cake maker,

I have to visit the dress maker.

After the dress maker,

I must see the priest and go through my vows.

And then finally,

In the evening,

I am going to meet my beloved and we'll have a cup of tea together,

Looking forward to tomorrow.

And then tomorrow,

We'll be in each other's arms.

How wonderful,

She says.

She is full of the joys of life.

As she was going on her way through the rainforest to go to see the cake maker,

The first appointment on the list,

A few steps ahead moving inside the jungle,

Right in front of her comes a lion,

A majestic,

Fierce and hungry lion,

Face to face,

Staring at her.

For her,

Everything suddenly stopped.

She could feel its breath in front of her face.

She stared at his deep and hypnotic eyes,

As if the lion could guess she was frozen and terrified at the same time,

Not able to move.

Then in that instant,

The cake maker's appointment was gone.

Then the dress maker appointment disappeared.

The appointment with the priest was not even considered.

Even the plan of meeting her beloved is gone.

At this moment,

She was alone.

No time,

No future,

No past,

No intention,

No identity,

Only the presence of the moment frozen in a fraction of time.

She's empty and present.

Then the master says,

Welcome the lion on your path.

This is your life.

The present is your focus.

After listening to the story,

The question is,

Do we need to encounter a life threatening situation to be present?

Reflect on that.

Remember the lion on your path.

Be well,

Be safe and be grateful.