Tenet 7 - Introspection.

“In moments of confusion and fear avoid hasty actions and take time to face your inner turmoil.”

Long ago, in a quiet mountain village, there was a boy named Jian who was known for his quick temper and impulsive ways. Though he was kind at heart, his rash decisions often led to trouble. His father, a wise man who was a fisherman, would often say to him:

Father: "A restless mind is like a river in a storm—turbulent and unclear. Wait for the waters to calm, and you will see the path beneath.” Jian would always nod but never truly listened.

One day, a great shadow appeared over the valley. The villagers gathered and saw a massive bird circling in the sky. Its wings were so wide that they seemed to blot out the sun. Panic swept through the village.

Villager: "It must be an omen of disaster!"

Another Villager: "We must act! Build barricades, light fires—anything to scare it away!"

The crowd descended into chaos, shouting over one another, each with their own ideas on how to defend the village. Jian, eager to prove his bravery, declared, "I will face the beast myself!"

Ignoring his father's protests, Jian grabbed his spear and climbed the mountain to confront the creature. The ascent was treacherous, with loose rocks and steep paths, but Jian's determination blinded him to the danger. As he climbed higher, the bird’s massive form grew clearer. But what he saw was not a beast—it was a great condor, majestic and calm, perched atop a cliff.

Jian raised his spear, ready to strike, but something stopped him. The condor’s eyes met his, deep and unwavering. There was no malice in them, only stillness. Jian froze, his heart pounding. At that moment, the cliff beneath him crumbled. Jian lost his footing and tumbled down the slope, narrowly catching a branch to save himself. Injured and humiliated, he struggled back to the village.

When he returned, he found the villagers gathered around his father, who was sitting calmly by the river. They had paused their frantic efforts to listen to him speak.

Father: "Before you act, consider the truth of what you face. Do not fight shadows cast by your own fear."

The villagers murmured, their panic subsiding.

Jian: "But Father, I saw the bird! It sits upon the mountain—why should we not act to defend ourselves?"

His father gestured to the river beside him.

Father: "Look at the water, Jian. What do you see?"

Jian peered into the river. Its surface was muddy and rippling from the storm that had passed the night before.

Jian: "I see nothing but murk."

Father: "Now wait."

The villagers watched in silence as the water slowly stilled. Minutes passed, and the silt settled, revealing a clear reflection of the sky and the stones below.

Father: "In the same way, fear and haste cloud our vision. If you had waited, you would have seen the truth of the bird—it is not a beast but a creature of peace. It has always lived on the mountain and means us no harm."

Jian lowered his head, ashamed of his impulsiveness.

That evening, the condor descended to the valley. It perched near the fields, observing the villagers with quiet dignity. The people, who had calmed their fears, approached cautiously. They noticed something remarkable—the bird’s talons carried seeds, which it dropped into the soil as it roamed. Over time, these seeds grew into vibrant plants that enriched the land.

The villagers came to see the condor not as a threat but as a gift from the mountains, and they learned to live in harmony with it.

Years later, Jian became a wise man in his own right. He would often sit by the river, guiding others through moments of fear and confusion. To those who sought his counsel, he would say:

Jian: "When the mind is troubled, do not act in haste. Let the storm within you pass, and the truth will rise like a reflection in still water.”

And so, the lesson of the river and the condor was passed down through generations: In moments of confusion and fear, avoid hasty actions. Instead, take the time to face your inner turmoil, for only then can you see the world—and yourself—clearly.