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One day, Lord Buddha arrived to teach his disciples, holding a beautiful handkerchief in his hand. The thousands of disciples present were surprised, as it was rare to see the Lord carrying anything.
As he began speaking, he started tying knots into the handkerchief. The disciples watched in curiosity. After making four or five knots, he held it up and asked, “Is this still the same handkerchief I brought, or has it changed?”
One disciple replied, “Lord, the handkerchief remains the same, but its state has altered.”
The Buddha agreed and then asked, “If I wished, could I restore it to its original form?”
Another disciple responded, “Yes, Lord, but you would need to carefully untie each knot.”
The Buddha then questioned, “How would you undo them? Would pulling the handkerchief loosen the knots?”
A third disciple answered wisely, “No, Lord. If we examine how the knots were tied, we can untie them with patience. But if we pull forcefully, we may tighten them further.”
The Buddha smiled and explained, “Just like these knots, when we argue with loved ones and insist on being right, we only tighten the conflict, creating distance. But if we understand the root of the problem and let go of expectations, we can mend relationships smoothly—just as this handkerchief can be restored.”
Moral of the Story:
Let us reflect: Do our expectations from parents, friends, or teachers lead to disputes? Often, they do! Instead of demanding from others, let us practice contentment, cherish what we have, and spread happiness. True harmony comes when we release expectations and untie the knots of conflict with wisdom and compassion.
