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In the past, there was a valiant General who fought battles fearlessly. During peacetime, he would enjoy spending time on his hobbies. He loved pottery and had an extensive collection of them. Whenever he was free, he would take them out to admire them.
One day while he was holding and admiring his favourite cup, he suddenly lost his grip and almost dropped the cup. Fortunately, his reflexes were quick enough to save his cup in time. Most people would find the nerve-wracking and startling experience of almost dropping an object very relatable.
So was the General, especially what he almost dropped was his favourite cup. After which, he reflected on the incident and contemplated, “Throughout my life, I had gone through numerous battles. Never was I afraid of swords and guns, yet why can such a small cup strike so much fear within my heart?”
He repeatedly asked "why" in his heart.
Suddenly, an answer emerged within his mind --- it must be “attachment”! It was the fear of losing that arose from attachment! After the realisation, he smashed his favourite cup onto the ground. Instantly, he felt immensely relieved. He was no longer affected by the fear of damaging his cup.
What we can learn from this story is that we often see ourselves as invincible and fearless. However, the truth is that everyone has their weakness. Even a spiritual cultivator has his weakness. For example, a spiritual cultivator might think that with his level of cultivation, he is able to do everything for the benefit of other sentient beings and never for his interest. However, when his self-interest is at stake, he will begin to think about how to protect himself first. This is a common weakness in human nature.
Translated by Soh Wan Siew
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