"The Reflection" - Story and Explanation

There was a king who presented his daughter with a beautiful diamond necklace. The necklace was stolen and his people in the kingdom searched everywhere but could not find it. The king then asked them all to search for it and put a reward for $50,000 for anyone who found it.

One day, a clerk was walking home along a river next to an industrial area. This river was completely polluted and filthy and smelly. As he was walking, the clerk saw a shimmering in the river and when he looked, he saw the diamond necklace. He decided to try and catch it so that he could get the $50,000 reward.

He put his hand in the filthy, dirty river and grabbed at the necklace, but some how missed it and didn’t catch it. He took his hand out and looked again and the necklace was still there. He tried again. This time he walked in the river and dirtied his pants in the filthy river and put his whole arm in to catch the necklace.

But strangely, he still missed the necklace! He came out and started walking away, feeling depressed. Then again, he saw the necklace, right there. This time he was determined to get it, no matter what. He decided to plunge into the river. Although it was disgusting, he plunged in and searched everywhere for the necklace. Yet one more time, he failed. This time he was really bewildered and came out feeling very depressed that he could not get the necklace that would get him $50,000.

Just then, a saint who was walking by, saw him, and asked him what was the matter. The clerk didn’t want to share the secret with the saint, thinking he might take the necklace for himself, so he refused to tell him anything.

The saint could see this man was troubled. Being compassionate, he again asked the clerk to tell him the problem and promised that he would not tell anyone about it. The clerk mustered some courage and decided to put some faith in the saint. He told him about the necklace and how he tried and tried to catch it, but kept failing.

The saint then told him that perhaps he should try looking upward, toward the branches of the tree, instead of in the filthy river. The clerk looked up and true enough, the necklace was dangling on the branch of a tree. He had been trying to capture a mere reflection of the real necklace all this time.

Thanks to Malladi for sharing this spiritual story!

The author of this spiritual story is unknown and greatly appreciated.

What Is the Spiritual Moral / Meaning of “The Reflection” Story?

The story of the diamond necklace mirrors our journey through life, where we encounter obstacles that obscure the true beauty and value of our aspirations. Amidst the polluted river of our struggles, we may become fixated on chasing material rewards, believing they hold the key to our happiness and fulfillment.

Yet, as the clerk demonstrates, our relentless pursuit of external validation and wealth can lead us astray, causing us to overlook the divine guidance that surrounds us. Each time he plunged into the contaminated river, he became more entangled in the illusion of his desires, losing sight of the higher truth that awaited him. Similarly, when we become consumed by the pursuit of worldly gain, we risk losing touch with our spiritual essence and the abundant blessings that await us in the realm of the unseen.

The saint’s arrival signifies the intervention of divine wisdom, offering us a lifeline amidst our struggles. Like a beacon of light in the darkness, the saint extends his compassion to the troubled clerk, inviting him to transcend his limited perspective and embrace a higher truth. In our own lives, moments of divine intervention often manifest as unexpected encounters, guiding us back to the path of spiritual enlightenment and inner peace.

The clerk’s reluctance to confide in the saint mirrors our own hesitancy to surrender our struggles to a higher power. Fueled by fear and distrust, we may resist seeking divine guidance, clinging instead to our illusions of control and self-sufficiency. Yet, it is only through surrendering our egoic resistance that we can open ourselves to the transformative power of divine grace.

The saint’s simple yet profound advice— to look upward— serves as a powerful metaphor for shifting our perspective from the material to the spiritual realm. By redirecting his gaze toward the heavens, the clerk is able to transcend the limitations of his physical senses and behold the true source of abundance and beauty. In the same way, when we align our consciousness with the divine, we gain access to a higher truth that transcends the illusions of the material world.

The revelation that the necklace was dangling from a tree branch all along serves as a poignant reminder of the inherent interconnectedness of all things. Just as the clerk mistook the reflection for reality, so too do we often mistake the fleeting pleasures of the material world for lasting fulfillment. Yet, when we awaken to the truth of our divine nature, we realize that true abundance resides not in the external trappings of wealth and success, but in the eternal presence of love and grace.

In the end, the clerk’s journey serves as a powerful allegory for the human experience, reminding us that our greatest treasures are not found in the pursuit of worldly gain, but in the discovery of our own inner divinity. As we navigate the turbulent waters of life, may we remember to look upward, toward the heavens, and embrace the infinite love and wisdom that surrounds us, guiding us ever closer to the realization of our true purpose and destiny.

Personal Reflection Questions

Spiritual stories are an opportunity to reflect on your own life. Here are 10 questions you can use to go deeper with the teachings in this story:

What does the king’s presentation of the diamond necklace symbolize in your own life? Reflect on moments when you’ve received gifts or opportunities that held significant value to you.
How does the clerk’s repeated attempts to retrieve the necklace from the polluted river mirror your own struggles and efforts in challenging situations? Consider times when you’ve faced obstacles that seemed insurmountable.
What emotions arise within you as you imagine the clerk’s determination to capture the necklace despite the filth and odor of the river? Explore your own capacity for resilience and perseverance in the face of adversity.
In what ways do you relate to the clerk’s feelings of disappointment and bewilderment when each attempt to grasp the necklace proves unsuccessful? Reflect on moments when you’ve experienced setbacks or failures in your own endeavors.
How does the arrival of the saint in the story resonate with moments of unexpected guidance or support that you’ve encountered in your own life? Consider instances when you’ve received wisdom or encouragement from unexpected sources.
What barriers, similar to the clerk’s reluctance to confide in the saint, have you encountered in seeking help or guidance from others? Reflect on the role of trust and vulnerability in your relationships and interactions with others.
How does the saint’s suggestion to look upward toward the branches of the tree resonate with your own experiences of shifting perspective or gaining insight in challenging situations? Consider times when a change in viewpoint led to a breakthrough or revelation.
What does the revelation that the necklace was dangling from a tree branch symbolize in your own life? Reflect on moments when you’ve discovered unexpected solutions or insights that were right in front of you all along.
How does the clerk’s journey of seeking the necklace parallel your own quest for fulfillment and meaning in life? Explore your own search for purpose and significance amidst the complexities of existence.
What lessons or insights can you glean from the story that may offer guidance or inspiration in navigating your own spiritual journey? Reflect on the themes of perseverance, trust, and the pursuit of higher truths as they apply to your own life.