There is a story about a man who came upon a cave from which a gentle, fragrant breeze was flowing. It was unlike anything he had ever experienced—cool, pure, and filled with a mysterious sweetness that stirred something deep within him. Overwhelmed by its beauty, he became determined to discover its source.

The man weighed nearly four hundred pounds, and the only entrance into the cave was a tiny opening far too small for him to pass through. Convinced that the secret of the wondrous breeze lay beyond it, he resolved to make himself smaller. He went on a strict diet, losing more and more weight. Yet even after all his efforts, he still could not squeeze through the narrow passage.

His longing only grew stronger. The memory of that exquisite breeze filled his every waking moment. Nothing else seemed to matter. He gave up his job, his home, and even his family. Consumed by a single desire, he kept repeating to himself, “I’ve got to find some of this breeze that smells and feels so beautiful.” It became the only thought in his mind, the one purpose that guided every step. He ate less and less until he became little more than skin and bones. At last, with every ounce of strength he had left, he forced himself into the opening. His head and shoulders passed through, but the rest of his body became hopelessly wedged. He could move neither forward nor backward.

Exhausted, stripped of every plan and every effort, he finally surrendered. In complete stillness, he whispered, “I’ve done all I can. There is nothing more I can do.”

At that very moment, something beyond his personal effort took over. The Self drew him effortlessly through the narrow passage. On the other side, he awakened to his true nature. He became Self-realized, discovering that what he had sought with such relentless determination could ultimately be attained only through complete surrender.

Courtesy of R.Adams