The Butterfly And The Cocoon

 Once upon a time a teenage boy was the student of a guru in India. The boy came to the guru one day to report that he had found a cocoon, and he was very excited about it. The guru advised the boy to watch the cocoon and when the butterfly started to hatch out of it to continue to study and watch but not to touch the butterfly. The boy went home and watched the cocoon for a long time. Finally, the butterfly started to crack the shell of the cocoon. The boy continued to watch for a long time and the butterfly continued to make the hole in the shell larger and larger and had more of its body outside of the cocoon. Finally the boy couldn't stand it any longer and gently, reached in, grasped the butterfly, and helped it out of the cocoon. The butterfly fluttered to the ceiling and then spiralled down to the floor and was only able to crawl. The butterfly could not fly. The boy was broken hearted. He ran back to the guru with tears in his eyes and told his story. Upon hearing what had happened, the guru said, "When you helped the butterfly out of the cocoon, you denied it the opportunity to strengthen its wings in the struggle."

The butterfly counts not months but moments, and has time enough. 

~ Rabindranath Tagore ~

If nothing ever changed, there'd be no butterflies.

~ Author Unknown ~

What the caterpillar calls the end of the world, the master calls a butterfly. 

~ Richard Bach ~

We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty.

~ Author Unknown ~

 Just like the butterfly, I too will awaken in my own time.

~ Deborah Chaskin ~