Advance with purpose, prudence and propulsion

To know ourselves better it can be inspiring to use a very simple analogy that is well known in ancient wisdom traditions. It is the allegory that compares the human being to the set formed by a carriage, some horses that push it, a coachman who directs them, and a traveler who sits in the carriage.

The carriage represents the physical body. The horses, the emotions. The coachman, the mind. The traveler, the spirit.

Ideally, the traveler (soul-spirit), aware of the meaning of the journey (life), transmits certain guidelines to the coachman (mind) that the latter listens attentively, and with complete and friendly control over the horses (emotions) and the carriage (body), the coachman (mind) guides the set along the appropriate paths to travel the route requested by the traveler (spirit). Each component performs its function in cooperative connection with the others and thus a peaceful and beautiful journey is achieved.

This ideal functioning, however, is far from being real in many cases. Nowadays, the coachman often ignores or belittles the traveler, so that he stops listening to him and the journey loses its true meaning. Sometimes, the traveler falls asleep. On other occasions, the coachman gives contradictory orders or is inconsiderate of the needs of the horses, which causes them to become exhausted, confused, frightened or rebel, causing not only slowdowns in the journey, but also accidents, which sometimes damage the carriage, injure the horses or knock the coachman and the traveler to the ground.

To enjoy a joyful and meaningful journey, it is advisable to ask ourselves assiduously:

• Am I really listening to my spirit? The traveler often gives subtle but important instructions that the coachman can only hear if he pays full attention in silence.
• Am I attending to my emotions and are they driving me forward? Horses need to rest, drink, eat, relieve themselves, be petted... Stopping frequently to attend to these needs allows the equines to remain obedient, healthy and energetic.
• Am I educating and training my mind enough? The coachman must learn various skills and must train regularly in order to become a skilled driver of the whole.
• Am I taking proper care of my body? With the friction of the ride, various components of the carriage can wear out and become out of adjustment, so it is advisable to periodically review, repair and nourish them.

Reflecting on these questions, while remembering this allegory, inspire us to advance in our life path —that of our true purposes— in a safe way —with genuine prudence— and at an optimal pace —with the propulsion of enthusiasm.