Fun metaphor

[akatoro]

Ahoy hoy, fellow eNotaloners.

 

I saw this movie yesterday and it left me with a question I am having trouble answering. The movie was 'Samsara' and it was about a tibetan monk who left in a search for his true self. He made many errors on the way and his wife, the daughter of a farmer, often gave him insight that even he could barely handle or comprehend.

 

So the thing I was wondering about is this metaphor and its answer.

"How can you keep a droplet of water from every drying out?"

"By putting it down in the ocean."

 

What does it really mean?

Could it mean something like taking past experiences (droplet) with you, adding them to the whole (ocean), learn from your mistakes and from that; become a better human?

 

Or perhaps it hints about that one lone person can only do so much and that with the help of others, obstacles and hardships may be overcome?

 

I would love to hear about your opinions on what this metaphor means!

Respectfully //

Akatoro.

[kuhl282000]

I think it means by we are a mere grain of sand in the sea of time. We are but a mere drop in the vast ocean. It makes us realize we are very small in the overall big picture. It makes us humble.

 

 

Sounds like a good movie

 

Kuhl

 

 

[Foreigner]

I guess it means that we are social beings and being alone we'll "dry out" - emotionally and consequently physically.

 

However, being in the ocean is OVERintegrated, so I'm not sure. If to look on the metaphor this way, perhaps I'd prefer the rain and not the ocean.

 

Thanks for the food for thought

 

~F-r.

[Ash]

If you surround yourself with friends, your life will be richer as a result. You won't fade away into nothing, but will remain vibrant and alive, and still retain your uniqueness.

[neva_black_n_white]

i think it means that you should be encouraged by your own life and its meaning, why make such a low attempt of it. if you decide to make a go of your life and be what you want to be then despite you dying later in life you wont truly have gone, you would remain.

 

you would remain in memories and thoughts and the respect towards you.

 

fo you did not let yourself dry up become weak or leave things too later you tried and succeeded.

 

well thats my views, sounded better in my head i dont think the words came out right,

kel

[akatoro]

All of the speculations so far sound really good and as far as I'm concerned, each of them could fit perfectly to that metaphor.

Thanks a lot for making my life richer, keep them coming people

[Derek]

You can spin that metaphor to be positive,

 

but the root of the metaphor is to lose your individuality to become one with the nothingness of the universe thus your drop of water was meaningless.

 

Zen/Eastern thought is about giving up of individuality and desires to reach Nirvana (perfect nothingness)

 

I think it is negative in the end.

 

Other philosophies and religions don't require losing the self. (which is an impossible goal. ) ( failed Yogic fliers around the world should know =)

 

 

[akatoro]

Great, Derek!

I loved what you said and it does make sense as it fits in with the theme of the movie.

 

Thanks a bunch for untying the knots in my head

[dikaia880]

this post has been dead for a month now, but I thought I'd add my two cents.

 

I read it and thought that it meant this...As you go through life an make mistakes you are supposed to learn from those mistakes, but in reality you can't really learn from those mistakes in a vacuum (i.e. single droplet) thereforeeee you must take each single droplet, and put them together (taking all life's experiences and putting them in relation to each other) in order for them to stay with you and have meaning.

 

I don't read this as being a part of society and losing individuality...

Even though you can see the ocean as one, if you look close enough, each droplet is different, and you can separate those droplets out if you choose to.