Dear friends,
I'd like to tell you a story which gives you something to ponder.
This is based on the ancient philosophical paradox known as the Ship of Theseus.
Once upon a time there was a family,
The Thompsons,
And they loved the sea.
They bought a ship which they named the Adventure and every summer they would take the Adventure out on a great sailing trip.
The Adventure was a sturdy ship but each year it needed some repairs.
The first summer they replaced the sails with new more colourful ones.
The next summer they repaired the deck with fresh planks of wood.
Year by year the family replaced parts that had become old or broken.
Despite all these changes the Thompsons loved and enjoyed their ship and they enjoyed the voyages on which it brought them.
In fact they got to love it even more and more with every passing year.
Sailing on this ship,
The Adventure,
They created wonderful memories.
They explored new islands.
They made lots of new friends.
One summer,
As the Adventure was sailing into the sunset,
Young Jake Thompson turned to his dad.
Dad,
Is this ship still the same Adventure?
Why do you ask that?
Said the dad.
Well,
Because we've replaced almost everything,
Said Jake.
Which brings us to the question we have to ponder today.
People ask themselves when they hear this story.
After the passage of time and with all its parts replaced,
Is this still the same ship?
And we can apply the same question to ourselves as we change physically and psychologically over the years.
But there is another even more fundamental question.
How is it that we human beings have the intelligence to ask this type of question and to debate the answer?
Stop to ponder every day on the wonder of this existence.
Namaste
