The Empty Boat-1

The Empty Boat-1

What to do when the other person evokes anger in you even when you are not at fault? This is one of the frequently asked questions, in fact. Let me begin with a famous Zen anecdote based on the teachings of Chuang Tzu.

Like some are crazy (yes, crazy) about their cars and gadgets, there was one who loved his boat. Every Sunday, he would clean it, take it out on the lake, bring it back and clean it yet again. He wouldn’t let his missus or children touch it, not even for cleaning it. One time, before the onset of winter, he spent four weekends painstakingly painting his boat that looked as good as new now.

He stood there admiring his prized possession and couldn’t resist the desire to go for one last ride of the season. Winter was fast approaching and it was a foggy day, yet he went ahead and untethered the boat. Enjoying the rustic smell of mist and the refreshing chill caressing his face, sailing over the quiet waters, looking at the dewy trees, he carefully steered through the fog. Soft light of the morning sun was absorbed by the dense fog, birds were intermittently tweeting at nearby and distant spots.

He was enjoying every moment in his lovely boat, away from the maddening crowd. No one to bother him. Just he and his sparkly baby, newly painted, in a blue lake, on a quiet morning.

Thud and something hit his boat. Not stopping, it was another boat that rubbed against his and scratched a chunk of its surface. A range of intense emotions starting from disbelief to rage surged through his body. How could this man be so dumb? Why did he have to spoil my perfect morning? Why do all turds come to me?

Singed with anger, he yelled, “Where the hell you think you are going, dumbass?”

No response came from the other boat. This made him even more livid. All the cussing he could not do out in the loud, he did it within and shouted one more time. Still, no one answered back. He looked closely and realized, there was no one in the other boat. It was an old, abandoned and empty boat that had just drifted his way.

He had a realization. All this while he thought the person in the other boat was responsible for his anger. Whereas, there was no other person. An empty boat had triggered anger in him. This anger was in him all along, something externally merely ignited it.

From the parable of The Empty Boat by Chuang Tzu, I quote an excerpt:

If a man is crossing a river
And an empty boat collides with his own skiff,
Even though he be a bad-tempered man
He will not become very angry.
But if he sees a man in the boat,
He will shout at him to steer clear.
If the shout is not heard, he will shout again,
And yet again, and begin cursing.
And all because there is somebody in the boat.
Yet if the boat were empty.
He would not be shouting, and not angry.

If you can empty your own boat
Crossing the river of the world,
No one will oppose you,
No one will seek to harm you.

“If you can empty your own boat… no one will seek to harm you.” I know, I know, it’s easier said than done. Then again, it’s not impossible though.

Om Namah Shivay