The Hummingbird and the Pot of Plenty

The Hummingbird and the Pot of Plenty

In the shade of our backyard orange tree hangs a small hummingbird feeder. Each day, delicate wings hum in the air as tiny visitors arrive—each with a unique form and spirit; some we are beginning to recognize now. They sip, they flutter, and they fly away, leaving us smiling at their beauty.

Among them is one hummingbird who prefers to guard. From a high branch in a nearby tree, he perches like a sentry, eyes sharp and body taut. The moment another hummingbird dares to approach, he dives with fierce speed, chasing the intruder beyond the neighbor’s roof before returning to his post. This is his endless ritual—day after day. And yet, while he is away chasing, another bird quietly swoops into drink, unseen, which puts a smile on our faces.

How much sweeter the sentry’s life could be if he let go—if he trusted that there is plenty of nectar in the pot for all. The flowers of the world are also blooming for him where he can taste different nectar. The feeder overflows. But his mind, bound by guarding the pot totally for himself , keeps him tethered to one branch, restless and unfulfilled.

And here we see a mirror of our own human condition. As Swami Chinmayananda reminds us, “There is enough wealth on this planet to satisfy every human need but not enough wealth to satisfy one greedy person.” Our clinging to what we think is “ours” traps us in the wheel of samsara, chasing and accumulating while the nectar of life waits untouched.

When we loosen our grip, when we share freely and see abundance instead of scarcity, the heart becomes light. The world’s gifts are meant for all beings. Let us open our hands, open our hearts, and in doing so, finally taste the sweetness that was always ours to enjoy.

#Hummingbird #Swamichinmayananda #Kindness