A traveling friend decided to spend a few weeks in a monastery in Nepal. One afternoon, he entered one of the many temples of the monastery and found a monk smiling, sitting on the altar.

– Why are you smiling? – my friend asked the monk.

– Because I understand the meaning of bananas – said the monk.

While opening the bag he carried and taking out a rotten banana from inside, the monk added:

– This is the life that passed and was not taken advantage of at the right time, now it is too late.

Then, he took a green banana out of the bag. He showed it and put it back.

– This is the life that has not yet happened, you have to wait for the right moment – he said.

Finally, he took a ripe banana, peeled it and shared it with my friend, saying:

– This is the present moment. May you be able to live it without fear.