Two Birds on a Tree

From the Upanishad:

Two birds, inseparable friends, cling to the same tree. One of them eats the sweet fruit, the other looks on without eating.  

On this same tree a person, sunk and grieving in slavery, is deluded, but upon observing the Lord happy and great, becomes free of sorrow.

Look at our friends on facebook. Many of them are having such a great time with their life - indulging good food, travelling the world, graduating from university, earning a salary, getting married, having kids, etc. Meanwhile, we reflect on what we have achieved in our life so far. 

If only we worked harder, we would have been admitted to a better college, like some of our friends. If only that happens, we could be offered a better job. And if only we get a higher pay, we could afford a bigger house, a faster car and support a bigger family. Ah, what a happy life that would be!

And so we thought.

....

How can the other bird looks on without eating the sweet fruit? 

The important point here, I think, is the bird's conscious decision to refrain from eating the sweet fruit -  although it wasn't forced to do so. Seeing its friend enjoying the fruit may be enough to keep the bird content. Maybe it has already eaten before clinging on to that tree.