The Master and the Reflection in the Lake by A. Paul Miller

Spring had finally come to the school and the town. The snow had melted away and the tulips, a sure sign that spring was on the way, had appeared everywhere. The once barren trees now had buds of green on them, and new life was appearing everywhere. The supplies for the school had run low after the winter and the Master was eager to see the flourishing countryside, so volunteered to go into the town to get some more.

As he was hitching up the horses to the wagon, a student just noticed and wandered across the courtyard.

“Master, where are you going?”

“I though that I’d get some more supplies for the school from the town. The headmaster has given me quite a list, so it should keep me busy for a while.” The Master replied while still getting the horses attached.

“May I come with you? I have the morning free and am at a bit of a loose end.”

“What about your studies?” the Master asked with a questioning voice.

“I am all up to date and need to get out and smell the fresh countryside air. I feel as though I have been cooped up too long over the winter.” said the student now fidgeting a little.

“Do I need to ask if you have done your morning meditation practice?” half smiling, the Master asked.

The student rolled his eyes, “Of course not. If I do not do it, the rest of the day just does not feel right.”

"I can relate to that." The Master said, "Come on then jump up and let’s head into town."

As they drove along the road leading from the school to the town, flowers and the green grassy hills were everywhere.

“I love this time of year.” The Master said, "It is like the world is coming out of a deep cold slumber and once more coming to life."

After a couple of miles, they came to the edge of town.

“Let’s leave the wagon and horses here and get a few things from these shops just here before we go further in the town.” The Master said.

As they walked to the shops some of the local young people started laughing and shouting at them how they never contributed to the local upkeep of the town and economy while they had to work hard in the fields, mills and forges from dawn to dusk.

The young student turned to the Master saying, "They are idiots, they do not understand the deeper meaning of life. They will never be more than slaves to their inner discordant thoughts and feelings, adding to their distorted perceptions of themselves and the world around them. No better than animals just reacting to their base instincts."

The Master just smiled and asked the student to come over the edge of the lake that they had just left the wagon near.

“What can you see on the surface of the water?” the Master asked.

“The blue sky, the shore and the trees.” said the student quite puzzled. Unclear where the Master was going with this.

“How is it you can see the reflection so clearly?” the Master asked

Not sure where this was all leading but interested to play along, the student answered, "Because the waters on the lake are so still and clear and the sun is shining so brightly."

“Very good,” The Master replied. “If the lake had been muddy, or the surface disturbed by the wind, would the reflection have been so clear?”

“Of course not.” replied the student

“So because the lake is so clear and the waters so still the reflection is so clear?” continued the Master

“Yes.” Replied the student.

“In other words, because the lake has nothing to distort the reflection, what it is reflecting is a true representation of what it is seeing.” The Master went on, “Do you consider you are so clear of judgements of yourself, so clear of any discordant thoughts, feelings and distorted perceptions of yourself and the world around you that what you are reflecting in your judgement of these youths is a true representation of them?”

“No,” he said, the student becoming sheepish. “I guess not. I should not be so judgmental of others as I am not perfect myself.”

“Exactly,” the Master said in a cheery voice "Come along let’s get back to our shopping."