A monarch once lived and promised a huge reward to anyone who could paint a picture of perfect serenity.
Numerous artists made an attempt. All the pieces were seen and appreciated by the king, but just two particularly touched him, so he had to make a decision.
The first painting showed a serene lake that resembled a perfect mirror reflecting the serene mountains in the background. A blue sky with light white clouds loomed over them. This picture, in the opinion of those who saw it, symbolized absolute tranquility.
On the other hand, the second picture depicted naked, rugged mountains. A powerful storm with lighting and thunder hit from the cloudy sky above them. A frothy torrent roared loudly at the base of the mountain. There was nothing serene about this picture.
However, the king saw a tiny shrub blooming in a fissure in the rock behind the waterfall once he looked closely. There was a nest on that shrub, and a small bird was peacefully resting in its nest there amidst the sound of the waterfall. Perfect tranquility.
The second artwork was picked by the king.
And he gave his patients an explanation for this: being in a peaceful environment does not equate to being free from issues, noise, exhaustion, or suffering. To be at peace means to maintain our inner composure in the face of all these challenges. This is what peace really means.
We discover balance in life when we achieve inner calm.
