Today’s inspiration is a parable sent to me by a friend. A parable is short story that illustrates a deeper truth through everyday metaphors. I don’t know the exact origin of the story, but it is adapted from ancient teachings of Buddhist philosophy. The wisdom inspires me today with a reason to embody the words of the song, “This little light of mine… I’m going to let it shine.”
A Single Candle
A man once asked an old Buddhist monk:
“How can I allow myself to feel peace or happiness when the world is filled with suffering, injustice, pain, and chaos?”
The monk looked at him silently and asked:
“If your home was dark…would you refuse to light a candle, simply because the whole world is not yet bright?”
The man became quiet. The monk continued:
“Yes, the suffering of the world is real. But if you destroy your own peace completely, you only add another exhausted and hopeless soul to the world.”
The man asked:
“But isn’t happiness selfish while others are suffering?”
The monk smiled gently.
“A drowning person cannot save another drowning person. And a mind consumed by despair cannot create healing.”
Then the monk pointed toward a still pond nearby.
“When water is disturbed, it cannot reflect clearly. But when it becomes calm, everything becomes visible.”
He looked back at the man and said:
“The same is true for the mind. A restless mind reacts with fear, anger, anxiety, and hopelessness. A peaceful mind responds with wisdom, compassion, clarity, and love.”
The man lowered his eyes and whispered,
“But the world still feels unbearably heavy.”
The monk nodded softly.
“Yes. And that is exactly why your peace matters even more.”
Then he added:
“Do not carry the suffering of the entire world inside one fragile heart. Instead…
Be kind where you are.
Help where you can.
Speak gently.
Reduce suffering around you, even in small ways.
A single candle cannot remove all darkness from the world…but it still changes every room it enters.”
The monk smiled one final time and said:
“Protect your inner peace. The world needs more calm hearts creating light, not more broken minds lost in darkness.”
“A single candle cannot remove all darkness from the world…but it still changes every room it enters.”