Don't Eat Your Map

Each of us has a map through this journey of life.

The Buddhists have an old parable that is very thought provoking.

An ant colony ran for years in perfect harmony.

Each ant had their assigned task. Each task was carried out perfectly.

One day the scout ants came across a complete picnic. There were no people around but the food was amazing.

Things the ants had never seen.

The elders of the tribe worried what would happen to the harmony of the colony if the ants were to be introduced to this amazing thing.

So they sent their best map maker out to the picnic to sketch it.

The ant made a map on a napkin and brought it back to the colony.

All the ants were gathered around the map.

The elders wanted to slowly introduce them to all the goodies that awaited them.

The ants walked over the map.

They formed cliques to protect their area on the map.

Some even ate parts of the map.

Wars erupted over the map.

Meanwhile the picnic was left to rot.

I kinda put that in my own words but the meaning is the same.

Know the difference between your journey and recognize the map for what it is.

Comments: 20

EM JAY (Gather Director of Chaos & Uprisings) W. Feb 24, 2009, 10:11am EST

I rolled my map and smoked it. Now I wander around not knowing where I'm going but making good time.

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Sue * Feb 24, 2009, 10:22am EST

Whoa-this is bit deep for me, I need to read it again.

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Lori F. Feb 24, 2009, 10:23am EST

MJ smoking a map is waaaay better than eating it.

Jim no we are the only ones that should be intelligent enough to stop wars.

Hey Sue.

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arlene (no shame in my game) w. Feb 24, 2009, 10:24am EST

That is pretty cute.

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C A. Feb 24, 2009, 10:27am EST

While this is simplistic, and philosophical, with very few exceptions humans are not ants.

There is no wondrous picnic, no over-the-rainbow pot of gold, waiting for any of us here on Earth. We only have our tiny spaces to a)improve or b)destroy.

The choice is ours, and ours alone.

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Lori F. Feb 24, 2009, 10:30am EST

Chandra the point is to know which is your map and which is your actual journey.

thanks arlene.

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Sheryl O. Feb 24, 2009, 10:35am EST

Hmm.. my first thought is that the map represents a full description of the bounties in life that are possible if taken in full and shared by all. When it is parsed and the pieces 'claimed', the full meaning is lost to each individual group. It strikes me as something organized religions do, fighting over their own little piece as 'best' and missing the larger picture which could only lead them to the bounty.

Thought-provoking story, Lori.

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Lori F. Feb 24, 2009, 10:42am EST

Thanks Sheryl.

We all want to be aware and prepared for our lifes journey but that must come from inside yourself.

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Trish A. Feb 24, 2009, 10:46am EST

Thanks for sharing this thougth provoking post. I'm sure I'll be pondering it all day.

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Sue * Feb 24, 2009, 11:11am EST

Hey Lori-this was good, it got me thinking as well.

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Lori F. Feb 24, 2009, 11:13am EST

Thanks Sue. It is thought provoking.

Thanks Trish:)

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Jerry S. Feb 24, 2009, 11:20am EST

Thanks, that's quite interesting.

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E. M. Feb 24, 2009, 12:01pm EST

My head is still hurting from Aniko's ethic of reciprocity article...what is the name of this parable? I think I need to read the original, and then do some thinkin'

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Doyle ( IS SOOO 7 for 7 soon... ) C. Feb 24, 2009, 12:04pm EST

Wait a minute...so the moral of the story is...if you eat your map you won't be hungry for rotting picnic food? Did somebody tell Yogi Bear? Is this really how Buddhist Ants think? No wonder Chistian Ants can kick their pagan abdomens!

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