Who’s in the Aquarium: Fish or People?
Looking at an aquarium, we see a closed world created for fish. It appears small, confined by glass, yet full of life, movement, and its own order. We observe this world, considering ourselves its masters—but do we ever wonder how we appear from the other side? Perhaps the fish, in their limited space, see us just as we see them: enigmatic beings standing beyond a transparent boundary.
An aquarium is a metaphor for our existence. Just as fish are confined to their glass world, so too do we live within the limits of our perception. We think we see reality, but in truth, we view it through filters created by society, habits, and our beliefs. Who among us is truly free? Is it we, confined by our thoughts, or the fish, which simply live?
The true parallel emerges from the understanding that the observer and the observed are interconnected. When we look at a fish, it looks back at us. We study its movement, and perhaps it, in turn, tries to understand us. This reminds us that our life, too, might be an aquarium—observed by something or someone greater than we can comprehend. It raises the philosophical question: Who created our “aquarium” and why are we in it?
The boundaries of an aquarium are an illusion. We see the glass, but it does not stop the fish from simply being. Likewise, we create barriers for ourselves, mistaking them for reality. The question is, who is ready to perceive what lies beyond the aquarium—and who dares to step outside its confines? Perhaps our task is not to break the glass, but to understand that it exists only in our perception.
This understanding resonates with the idea of love and harmony. Fish do not ask why they are in the aquarium; they simply live, accepting the conditions in which they find themselves. But people tend to ask questions and search for answers. Perhaps that is our role—not merely to exist, but to explore, understand, and discover. Yet in this quest, it is important to remember: life does not need justification; it is already perfect in its being.
So, who is in the aquarium? Fish, people, or perhaps all of us at once? True freedom begins with the realization that an aquarium is not a prison but a reflection. Its transparent walls do not divide but connect worlds, reminding us that the observer and the observed are parts of a single whole. Once we understand this, we cease to be prisoners and become creators of our own reality.
An aquarium is a mirror of life, where every glance, every movement is part of the endless play of existence. Fish live, people watch, and the world keeps turning, inviting us to ponder: Who are we, why are we here, and what lies beyond the transparent wall? The answer to this question lies within us—in our ability to see, to feel, and simply to be.