MANILA, Philippines ? There?s a Chinese saying that goes, ?Gaze at the ocean and sigh.?

The story that goes along with it is simple: One day, the rivers flooded and the god of the rivers instantly became proud of his expanded territories. But when he arrived at the ocean side, he realized how small his dominion actually was, and he sighed and left feeling humbled.

Another story: Five friends decided to take a walk along the beach despite being told that a storm was coming. Suddenly, a huge wave hit them, and they were immediately thrown off their feet and injured. However, a person lagging behind suffered no injuries, because the wave didn?t hit her. Later, they shared their realizations.

Glimpse

They had a glimpse of how situations could change in a matter of seconds, and how they could wash away our sense of security. Material comfort and defenses are fleeting, so we must be ready to let go and take shelter in the spiritual realm.

Their experience reminds us of another story related by Puring Tamayo, who has a house by the beach. An avid gardener, she worked hard to transform her sandy backyard into a lush tropical garden.

During a typhoon, the rocks she put in her garden disappeared back into the ocean. Tamayo later mused, ?The ocean owned them and merely got them back.? She understood the nature of the great forces and had respect for them.