Inward Bound

The Seven Sacred Paths

The Unknown

Presence 

Multi- Dimensionality

Relationships 

Heart 

Wisdom 

Service

Unknown

 “One is never afraid of the unknown; one is afraid of the known coming to an end.”
                          - Krishnamurti

This quote reminds me of a parable. 

Once there was a young monk who, after long day of study and prayers, went for a walk in the woods.  In his wonderings, he came across a soft grassy spot under tree and took a rest, soon he fell asleep.  He began to dream. 

In his dream he heard a conversation between two caterpillars.   One caterpillar was saying to the other, “Ain’t this the life.  I get to eat these sweet leaves and bask in the sun all day.  Sure, I have to watch out for those hungry crows, but I can just curl up under a branch, and there is always more leaves and all my friends and family are here.  I can’t imagine how things could be any better or different”. 

His caterpillar friend said, “Gee I don’t know.  I’ve heard stories from the elders that someday our bodies fall apart, and we lose our consciousness.    And then, out of this nothingness, out of this “great unknown” we ascend into these beautiful winged beings that can fly up into the heavens”. 

Whereas the first caterpillar said, “Oh man, that’s crazy.  And besides, why would I want to change, why would I want to transform into something else when what I got here is what I know and what I understand and what I am comfortable with.  This moving into the “great unknown” sounds scary and challenging.  It doesn’t sound worth it”.

The young monk was startled awake by the sharp cawing and rattle of a pair of crows.  Rubbing his eyes, stretching and getting up, he began his walk back to the monastery.   

Inward Bound, Walking the Seven Sacred Paths brings forth the idea that navigating the great unknowns of life, with courage, insight and faith, is an essential part of creating a life of healthy choices, self-compassion, and mindful interactions  

For as the ancient Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu profoundly states,

“What the caterpillar calls the end, the rest of the world calls a butterfly”.

Steve Stroud

Executive Director

The Ripple Foundation