The Gravity of Your Intention

Posted on September 18, 2013 by Matt Schoenherr, One of Thousands of Business Coaches on Noomii.

One morning, a master asked his student to fill a small wooden bucket of water as quickly as he could for their morning tea. The student hurried out to the well, placed the bucket on a small platform on the ground under the spigot and began to lever the pump’s handle. Since the pump was old and rusted, it required two hands and took several minutes before giving any water. By the end of these few minutes, the student was working furiously, exasperated at the amount of effort required for such a small bucket of water and mindful his master was waiting.

Finally, the well began to sputter and spit as water rose to the top of the pump. The student continued to work the pump and the water burst forth with such force it arched over the bucket and landed on the stony, uneven ground beyond. Crying out in frustration, the student tried to slow the water’s flow by closing the pump halfway, however as soon as he stopped working the handle, the pump sealed itself and the water slowed to a trickle. When the student then tried lifting the handle halfway, there wasn’t enough force to produce any water.

Watching this, the master said, “If you work the pump halfway, your results are ineffective. Similarly, if you work the pump too intensely, your efforts may give much fruit, but still you may miss the mark. Try lifting the handle all the way, then pause and see what happens.”

“Master, I lifted the handle all the way and the water flew past the bucket!” the student replied.

The master simply looked on, saying nothing. The student turned back to the pump and followed the master’s instructions, lifting the pump’s handle all the way as before, but waiting after each lift. As it had before, the water flew past the bucket, but as the stream ran down, much of the water fell into the bucket. Pleased, the student pushed the lever down and raised it again to the same effect.

After several such cycles, the bucket was full. Closing the pump, the student walked the full bucket of water over the master. The master said, “Often, in our seeking to fill our days with as much as we can, we may find our efforts offering little fulfillment. If we periodically take time to replenish ourselves, bringing balance to intense activity, we accomplish more than if we move through our days at full speed or with half-spirited effort.”

“The important part is to decide your direction, move in that direction with clarity and allow the gravity of your intention to work with you, for you.”