Hey there , every now and then , I come across a parable or a teaching in a story form , and I found one that I'd like to share with you this week . It's a Buddhist parable called the Dragon and the Fire , and it's a true story of transformation .
In a faraway kingdom , amidst high mountains and deep forests , lived a mighty dragon . This dragon was known for its overwhelming strength and fiery temperament . However , despite his strength and powerful breath , the dragon had an
unfulfilled heart . The dragon had an unfulfilled heart . He felt a deep dissatisfaction , a pain that only fueled his fire . One day , the dragon flew over the kingdom and saw below him a small village devastated by a terrible fire . The dragon , seeing the fire as part of his own nature , flew down and tried to confront the flames with his own fire . The dragon , seeing the fire as part of his own nature , flew down and tried to confront the flames with his own fire , but instead of extinguishing the fire , his flame only made it stronger .
Desperate and full of regret , the dragon flew away , his heart even heavier than it was before .
Speaker 1In desperation , the dragon flew to an old sage who lived high in the mountains . The sage listened to the dragon's story and nodded in understanding . Fire , he said , can be destructive , but it can also purify and renew . It is not the fire itself that is the problem , but how you use it . The dragon was confused . How can I use my fire
differently ? He asked . I'm a dragon . Fire is part of who I am Exactly the sage , and that is exactly why you must learn to see it not as a weapon but as a tool . Fire can give warmth . It can bring light into darkness . It can burn away the old to make room for the new . You must learn to use your fire with wisdom and compassion .
Speaker 1With these words in mind , the dragon returned to the kingdom . He saw the village still burning and , instead of using his own fire , he flew to a nearby lake , filled his mighty maw with water and put out the fire , and then he used his flame to give the villagers warmth and light in the cool of the night . He helped them rebuild their homes by using his fire to shape the wood and make it harder . From that day on , the dragon was no longer known only as a destructive force , but also as a being of warmth and light . He had learned to use his fire not as a weapon but as a tool , and in doing so , he found the satisfaction he had sought for so long . His heart was no longer heavy , but filled with the warmth of his own flame , which could now not only destroy , but also heal and renew , but also heal and renew . I'm Lisa Hopkins . Thanks so much for listening . Stay safe and healthy , everyone , and remember to live in the moment .