Some time ago, in some magazine I really can’t exactly recall, I read this Zen parable of a horse and rider:
It was explained that the “horse” here represents our habit energy — our obsessions and addictions — that is constantly hauling us to actions, actions which we can scarcely explain.Day and night, we seem to be chasing something. Looking over our shoulders, it’s just our insecurities driving us crazy.It’s empirically proven that if you start from a fixed point, say where you are seated now for example, and walk in a straight line round the world, you’d end up right back where you started. So, where are we hurry-ing to if we are fated to come round back to the same place?You are on WhatsApp now, the next minute you are on Facebook, and the next you are on Twitter, then Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok… really, what are you looking for?“The horse is galloping quickly, and it appears that the rider is urgently heading somewhere important. A bystander along the road calls out, ‘Where are you going?’ and the rider replies, ‘I don’t know! Ask the horse!’”
I don’t know! Ask the horse!
Why do we choose to ride this crazed horse that is kicking at people, bumping into trees, and ready…