The Elephant and the Fly

Story: The Elephant and the Fly

By Remez Sasson

Most people live in a state of constant mental noise because their environment dictates their focus. This unique dialogue between an elephant and a buzzing fly provides a practical masterclass in focus, illustrating how mastering your attention allows you to remain completely undisturbed by external sensory distractions.

One day, a disciple and his teacher were walking through the forest. The disciple was disturbed by the fact that his mind was in constant unrest.

He asked his teacher: “Why most people’s minds are restless, and only a few possess a calm mind? What can one do to still the mind?”

The teacher looked at the disciple, smiled, and said, “I will tell you a story.”

“On one beautiful day, an elephant was standing by the shade of a tree, eating its leaves. Suddenly, a small fly came buzzing and landed on the elephant’s ear. The elephant stayed calm and continued to eat, not heeding the fly.”

“The fly flew around the elephant’s ear, buzzing noisily, yet the elephant seemed to be unaffected. This bewildered the fly, and it asked, ‘Are you deaf?’

“No!” The elephant answered.

“Why aren’t you bothered by my buzz?” The fly asked.

“Why are you so restless and noisy? Why can’t you stay still just for a few moments?” Asked the elephant, and peacefully continued eating the leaves.

The fly answered, “Everything I see, hear, and feel attracts my attention, and all noises and movements around me affect my behavior.”

“What is your secret? How can you stay so calm and still while I am buzzing in your ear?”

“I can continue eating peacefully because my five senses do not disturb my peace.

“How is it possible?” Asked the fly, amazed and baffled.

“Because I don’t let them rule my attention.” Answered the elephant.

“I am in control of my mind and my thoughts, and therefore, I can direct my attention wherever I want and ignore any disturbances, including your buzz.”

“And therefore,” continued the elephant, “I am completely immersed in the act of eating, enjoying my food, and chewing it peacefully.”

Upon hearing these words, the disciple’s eyes opened wide, and a smile appeared on his face. He looked at his teacher and said:

“I now understand! My mind will always be in constant unrest if my five senses and whatever happens in the world around me control my mind.

“On the other hand, if I am in command of my five senses, able to disregard sense impressions, and able to control my thoughts, my mind will become calm. I will be able to disregard its restlessness and enjoy peace of mind.”

“Yes, that’s right,” the teacher answered, “The mind is restless and goes wherever the attention goes. Control your attention, and you control your mind.”

Key Takeaways on Attention Control and Mental Calmness

The lesson shared by the elephant reveals three core principles of developing a highly disciplined and focused mind:

Breaking the Tyranny of the Senses: The fly represents the untrained mind, which moves instantly toward every external noise, sight, and movement. True peace begins when you stop letting raw sensory data dictate your mental state and behavior.

The Power of Single-Tasking: The elephant was able to fully enjoy its food because it was completely immersed in the act of eating. When you control your attention, you gain the ability to stay fully anchored in the present moment, increasing both your productivity and your joy.

Disturbance is an Internal Choice: The fly’s buzzing did not disturb the elephant because the elephant chose not to let it rule its attention. This proves that external noise only becomes a distraction if your mind actively chooses to give it power.

“This story is from the book How to Focus Your Attention.”

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📖 Learn to Quiet the Mind and Reclaim Your Focus

Reading about a quiet mind is the first step; achieving it amidst daily distractions is the real work. If you want practical exercises to silence internal chatter and build unshakeable inner strength, explore our step-by-step guides below.