On a warm summer’s day, a traveller was riding through the desert. Both he and his horse were tired and thirsty and so he was very happy to notice an oasis in the distance. To a desert traveller, an oasis means life! On approaching, the traveller noticed it was actually a small farm and there was a farmer drawing water from a deep, subterranean well. At the touch of the farmer’s hand fresh, cool water flushed into the drinking trough via a motorised pump.

The traveller requested the farmer to fill the trough, that he and his horse may quench their thirst. The farmer readily fulfilled the request and set the pump into action. Fresh water flooded into the trough but at the sound of the pump the traveller’s horse winced and jumped away. In vain did the traveller try to calm and reassure his horse, but every time the motorised pump rumbled into action, the horse whinnied and backed off without drinking a drop. The fear of the noise was stronger than its thirst.

The traveller was exasperated – how should he water his horse if it was fearful of the noise of the water pump? The farmer commiserated with the traveller and told him, “My friend, teach your horse to drink regardless of the noise, else let it walk away thirsty.”

The traveller typifies us. The horse symbolises our yoga practise and the oasis water represents all the benefits of yoga.  The noise of the pump is life’s problems and obstacles - and that noise will never cease.  Whatever the noise, whatever the problem, whenever something comes between you and your time for practising yoga, remind yourself “it’s just the noise of the pump”.  Learn to develop your practise along with the noise of life, or you will remain thirsty for all the benefits that yoga can bring you.

Practise a little each day with trust and love.

For further inspiration, watch this YouTube snippet of Holy Guruji