Identity Crisis - The Story of the Two Birds on a Tree

Once upon a time, there lived two birds on a tree. They were inseparable. They could always be found together on the tree. One of the birds would sit on the lower branches and indulge in fruits and vegetation and absolutely relish them. The other one would watch from the higher branch and would not indulge. This one had a special glow, a lovely golden hue surrounding it.

One day, the bird on the lower branch had a fruit that was extremely distasteful. It immediately spit it out and thought it was better off not indulging and eating when not hungry. The fruit had left such a bad taste, it decided to go and sit with the bird that watched it from higher branch.

When it landed on the branch, it realised that the bird it had seen in the higher branch, the one that always watched and had a beautiful bright hue was none other than itself.

This is similar to what we do. We have this identity crisis. We identify ourselves with things we aren’t and fail to realise the real self. The sense organs were given to serve us but we have made them the master. Most of mankind’s problems today stem from not realising who we truly are and operating at lower planes, serving our senses.

The real you is full of wisdom, clarity and brightness. Instead of being the bird in the lower branch getting caught up in petty things, realise who you really are.

You may be wondering how this philosophical thinking would help you in your everyday life, afterall our intelligence will make us ask this question. The bright bird in the higher plane can be seen as your inner consciousness which is untouched by what happens outside, hence is full of wisdom.

When you realise you are not identified by your money, status, profession, disease etc. it helps you see challenges in life from a different perspective, one that is much clearer and not clouded by unwanted thoughts, beliefs and values that may not have serve us well. When you have that perspective, your innate wisdom helps you face challenges without fear. I am not saying there will be no challenges in life and it will be plain sailing but I am saying you will not get caught up in them and will be able to deal with them well.

When you know you are more than who you think you are and you are not held back by constraining identities you give yourself, so many possibilities open.

#ancientwisdom #upanishadstories #identity