INTRODUCTION
On one hand, spiritual guides often tell us to use our five senses to keep an eye out for the Divine all around us. Much like the story about The Fish Searching for the Ocean, God is not very loud, dramatic nor fanciful. Sacred presence is much more closer and ordinary than we assume.
On the other hand, we are also invited to not get to get caught up with external searching. Soul searching is not about looking for an external tangible thing to be acquired; rather, it is about paying full attention to what is going within oneself and "churn" oneself, as this story invites us to do. Going deep within oneself is a process of simplification, pruning the unessential that we tend to attach ourselves with. This story is about that process: Whatever is left behind from the internal churning is what we are looking for.
On one hand, spiritual guides often tell us to use our five senses to keep an eye out for the Divine all around us. Much like the story about The Fish Searching for the Ocean, God is not very loud, dramatic nor fanciful. Sacred presence is much more closer and ordinary than we assume.
On the other hand, we are also invited to not get to get caught up with external searching. Soul searching is not about looking for an external tangible thing to be acquired; rather, it is about paying full attention to what is going within oneself and "churn" oneself, as this story invites us to do. Going deep within oneself is a process of simplification, pruning the unessential that we tend to attach ourselves with. This story is about that process: Whatever is left behind from the internal churning is what we are looking for.
THE BUTTER IN THE MILK
(This story is adapted from the book “The Monkeys and the Mango Tree” by Harish Johari, which is a collection of tales drawn from the great Indian epics - the Puranas, the Upanishads, and the Mahabharata)
A young spiritual seeker went to see an old hermit, a spiritual teacher, who lived beside a river in a small hut. The seeker sat in silence with the master, and felt peace. When it was time to leave, the young spiritual seeker asked the old teacher a question.
“Of course, you may ask a question,” said the teacher.
“Where can I find Divine Wisdom?”
The teacher smiled: “That is not an easy question to answer. Allow me to dwell on it. Come again tomorrow and I will answer it. Also, please bring a glass of milk.”
The young spiritual seeker agreed and went home, excited that the question would be answered the next day. However, the young seeker found it odd that the master requested a glass of milk. But since it was a simple request to fulfill, the next day the young seeker returned with a glass of milk.
The old teacher thanked the student for the milk and then the master poured the milk into the begging bowl. Then the master put their fingers into the milk and lifted them up. But when the milk ran through their fingers, the master frowned and repeated the gesture with the same result.
The young student watched and was puzzled by the master’s actions, but remained silent. The student wished the teacher would finish up with this foolishness and get on to the question that they had brought up.
However, the old master continued to dip their fingers into the milk, stirring the milk, then occasionally lifting their hand out and staring into their palm. But when the master found their palm empty, the old sage would then return to stirring their fingers through the milk, as though looking for something.
Finally, the young student lost their patience and said, “Teacher, what are you looking for?”
“I have heard that there is butter in milk,” the old master said. “I am searching for butter.”
The young student then cackled and laughed loudly, and said: “It’s not like that. Teacher, the butter is not separate from the milk - it is part of it. You have to convert the milk into yogurt, and then churn it to make the butter come out.”
“Aah, very good!” said the old master. “I believe you have the answer to your question.”
Then the master drank the milk in one gulp, and then said: “Now go and churn the milk of your soul until you have found Divine Wisdom.”
(This story is adapted from the book “The Monkeys and the Mango Tree” by Harish Johari, which is a collection of tales drawn from the great Indian epics - the Puranas, the Upanishads, and the Mahabharata)
A young spiritual seeker went to see an old hermit, a spiritual teacher, who lived beside a river in a small hut. The seeker sat in silence with the master, and felt peace. When it was time to leave, the young spiritual seeker asked the old teacher a question.
“Of course, you may ask a question,” said the teacher.
“Where can I find Divine Wisdom?”
The teacher smiled: “That is not an easy question to answer. Allow me to dwell on it. Come again tomorrow and I will answer it. Also, please bring a glass of milk.”
The young spiritual seeker agreed and went home, excited that the question would be answered the next day. However, the young seeker found it odd that the master requested a glass of milk. But since it was a simple request to fulfill, the next day the young seeker returned with a glass of milk.
The old teacher thanked the student for the milk and then the master poured the milk into the begging bowl. Then the master put their fingers into the milk and lifted them up. But when the milk ran through their fingers, the master frowned and repeated the gesture with the same result.
The young student watched and was puzzled by the master’s actions, but remained silent. The student wished the teacher would finish up with this foolishness and get on to the question that they had brought up.
However, the old master continued to dip their fingers into the milk, stirring the milk, then occasionally lifting their hand out and staring into their palm. But when the master found their palm empty, the old sage would then return to stirring their fingers through the milk, as though looking for something.
Finally, the young student lost their patience and said, “Teacher, what are you looking for?”
“I have heard that there is butter in milk,” the old master said. “I am searching for butter.”
The young student then cackled and laughed loudly, and said: “It’s not like that. Teacher, the butter is not separate from the milk - it is part of it. You have to convert the milk into yogurt, and then churn it to make the butter come out.”
“Aah, very good!” said the old master. “I believe you have the answer to your question.”
Then the master drank the milk in one gulp, and then said: “Now go and churn the milk of your soul until you have found Divine Wisdom.”
REFLECTION QUESTIONS
- Which part of the story did you find the most important? Which part of the story resonated with you?
- What experiences have you had that is close to this story?
- Where do you find yourself in this story? Which part of the story is about you?
- What kind of internal churning have you gone through, or are going through now?
Guide for Facilitators of Spiritual Care Support Groups
TURN / CHURN (By Chaplain Donnel) - (Chords/Lyrics)
Churn my heart
Churn my soul
Lead me from dark to light
Make me whole
Churn my mind
Churn my feet
Guide each step
To the sacred beat
Churn my voice
Churn my ear
So I may sing your song
Without fear
Churn our words
Churn our breath
Bless our body
Towards good health
Churn my heart
Churn my soul
Lead me from dark to light
Make me whole
Churn my mind
Churn my feet
Guide each step
To the sacred beat
Churn my voice
Churn my ear
So I may sing your song
Without fear
Churn our words
Churn our breath
Bless our body
Towards good health
