Tarot & Buddhism:
Two of Swords: Two Words
(c) Cheryl Lynne Bradley 2007


The 2 of Swords in the Tarot is a card that is very indicative of waiting. Waiting comes in many forms. We can be waiting for money, waiting for love, waiting for an opportunity, waiting for more information, waiting for a better day, waiting for acknowledgement, waiting for permission, or we can be waiting for a chance to speak our piece. The real truth about waiting ends up being is what you are waiting for worth it. It remind us of what we may be depriving ourselves of by waiting too long. It can represent choosing between focusing on the positive or negative aspects of our life. So when your time of waiting is up, what are you going to do with it? This little story sums it up rather nicely.

There once was a monastery that was very strict. Following a vow of silence, no one was allowed to speak at all. But there was one exception to this rule. Every ten years, the monks were permitted to speak just two words. After spending his first ten years at the monastery, one monk went to the head monk. "It has been ten years," said the head monk. "What are the two words you would like to speak?"

"Bed... hard..." said the monk.

"I see," replied the head monk.

Ten years later, the monk returned to the head monk's office. "It has been ten more years," said the head monk. "What are the two words you would like to speak?"

"Food... stinks..." said the monk.

"I see," replied the head monk.

Yet another ten years passed and the monk once again met with the head monk who asked, "What are your two words now, after these ten years?"

"I... quit!" said the monk.

"Well, I can see why," replied the head monk. "All you ever do is complain."

It would seem that the monk wasted 30 years dwelling on what complaint he could make using his two words ormaybe after all that time, he had everything reduced to the bottom line commentary on how his basic needs were not being met. Wise people are supposed to eat when they are hungry, sleep when they are tired and drink when they are thirsty. The bed was hard, the food was bad, why waste another two words and another 10 years to complain about the beverages.

 




This page was created February 2, 2007.