Just follow the flow

There is a temple that has a big yard surrounding it. The yard is full of different trees and when it's windy, the leaves would fell everywhere.

In the temple, there was a little monk who looks after those leaves. However this job is getting harder when it comes to winter and autumn. It also takes longer to clean up all the leaves. Therefore the little monk could no longer be patient and decided to come up with some plan.

Another monk knows about this problem, thus he told the little monk: "Tomorrow before you start cleaning, why don't you shake the tree and let all the nearly-fall leaves to fall? Then there won't be any leave fall down the next day and you don't have to sweep it anymore."

The little monk thinks that it is actually a good idea and the next day, he shakes the tree as hard as he could. He then cleaned up all the fallen leaves deligently. Although he is perspiring so much, he feels happy as tomorrow he doesn't need to sweep the yard anymore.

Next day, this little monk walked confidently to the backyard. To his suprise, the situation is the same as the day before: the yard is covered in leaves. For a second, the little monk is lost.

Then, a wise old monk comes and tell him: "Silly child, everything in this world comes and goes. It doesn't matter how hard you shook the tree yesterday, there are leaves that will still fall today. Let me give you some words, it could be useful."

The old monk then picks up a branch and writes on floor: "Old hair will eventually fell from the head, old leaves will also fell off from the tree. Everything no matter big or small, it will be gone once the time arrives."

Finally, the little monk understands. There are many things in this world that cannot be rushed. We are only looking for trouble if we try to overthrow the rule of nature.

The only way is to face all the bitterness/sweetness/sourness in this life bravely. In fact, sending away an old one and welcoming a new one is a form of happiness in this life.

Since then, the little monk has changed. He works hard everyday to clean the yard. After seeing this, the old monk feels happy and said: "Today we sweep the old leaves off floor and tomorrow we welcome new flowers to the trees."