Once a professor stood
before his Philosophy class with some items in front of him. When the class
began, he wordlessly picked up a very large and empty Mayonnaise jar and
proceeded to fill it with golf balls. He then asked his students if the jar was
full. They all agreed that it was.
The professor then picked up a
box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The
pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls. He then asked the
students again if the jar was full. They agreed that it was.
The professor next picked up
a box of sand and poured into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything
else. He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with a unanimous
“Yes.”
The professor then poured
two cups of water into the jar, effectively filling the empty space between the
sand. He once again asked the students if the jar was full. The students
shouted that it was.
The above story would aptly imply to the “Four Pillars
“of the Dominican Order.
The golf balls in the story
would signify “the Prayer”. Being the First Pillar, Prayer is the foundation
and source from which all other activities derive inspiration. The pebbles
represent “the Study”, another important Pillar of the Order. A Dominican
studies throughout his life. “The Community Life” is represented by the sand.
Just as the sand holds the other items together in the story, so also the
Community Life holds us together as one family. The Preaching is signified by
the water. Preaching is not just by mouth alone but by the very persons we are.
Each item has to be placed
in the jar in a proper order. If the water is poured into the jar first, then
there will not space for any other items. So, is the case with sand and
pebbles.
So, we have to follow right
order in our Dominican way of Life.
Roshan Thomas II Phil
