Letting things go

A student approached his Zen master with a troubled heart, seeking guidance on how to let go of painful memories that haunted him day and night.

The master smiled and said, "Imagine you are standing on the bank of a river, watching the water flow. You see leaves and debris floating by, carried along by the current. Some are beautiful, some are ugly, and some are stuck in eddies, going around in circles."

The student nodded, understanding the metaphor.

The master continued, "Now, imagine you pick up a leaf from the riverbank and hold it tightly in your hand. You look at it, examine it, and become fixated on its details. You become attached to it, and it becomes the center of your attention. Meanwhile, the river continues to flow, and more leaves pass you by."

The student nodded again, sensing the lesson.

The master then said, "In order to let go and forget, you must simply open your hand and release the leaf back into the river. Allow it to be carried away by the current, and watch it disappear from sight. Do not dwell on it or try to hold on to it. Let it go, and let the river continue to flow."

The student reflected on the master's words and realized that just as the river constantly moves forward, life also moves on. Holding on to past memories only weighed him down and prevented him from fully experiencing the present moment. With renewed understanding, the student bowed to the master and walked away, ready to release his grip on the past and allow life to flow freely.