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Observing the waxing and waning of the seasonal moon and its reflections... |
| The title of this blog, “Apricot Moon,” is inspired by meditations on the Chinese lunar calendar as presented in The Lunar Tao, Meditations in Harmony with the Seasons, by Deng-Ming Dao. In spite of its roots, the purpose of the blog is not to propagate an “ism.” It does not require any familiarity with Asian philosophy, or, for that matter, invite agreement or disagreement with any particular point of view. This is meant to be an observance of the passing of both the internal and external seasons, an examination into the myriad events and changes occurring in those seasons, an exploration of a landscape in which discovery and contemplation may be revealed and celebrated. May it also be a place where many voices can be heard, a meeting place for those who try to write eloquently and live genuinely. Here, then, are the recurring phases of the Apricot Moon… |
| In the Pomegranate Moon.... The prominence of the prolific pomegranate expresses its importance in Chinese art and symbolism. While the traditional patriarchal meaning of the pomegranate refers to ‘the blessing of many sons,’ that meaning can expand to visualize the pomegranate as the source of many blessings, the fruitful abundance of life. How easy it is to overlook , that abundance when the mind is consumed with worries, distractions, plans, hopes, and the rest of the myriad ten thousand things that arise for their due attention in the course of each day. It is so easy to disregard the many opportunities which present a small, sweet, fruit-enwrapped seed that can generate more fruit for the future, more abundant goodness, if only we have the wit and wisdom to swallow it carefully and use it wisely. The mind, the mind; how occupied is the mind! In spite of the tragedies that the COVID-19 pandemic have wrought upon us all, working from home enabled me to have extra time and quiet for reflection. In addition to my employment, working from home enabled me to be less busy, more contemplative, more empathetic for the sufferings of my fellow beings; it helped me to live a little deeper. Mind you, I live alone, and I have no family. For me, this time has been good, helpful, and enriching, though I would trade it all to bring back the life of even one COVID-19 casualty. , not to mention the staggering numbers, both here and throughout the world, who succumbed to the influenza. One of my co-workers living in the Philippines lost seventeen of her extended family members. I am unable to even begin to measure that loss, not to mention the staggering numbers, both here and throughout the world, who succumbed to the influenza. And many are still dying. As I write this on the Fourth of July, 2021, I think it was the Renaissance philosopher Erasmus who said that the most important quality a great ruler must have is essere umano, to be human. A current popular Italian song circulating today contains the lyrics: “Credo negli esseri umani che hanno coraggio, coraggio di essere umani,” meaning “I believe in human beings that have courage, the courage to be human…” The Buddhists say that birth and death are a grave event. We do have to face many weighty issues in life’s journey. The many grave issues we have had to confront during the pandemic have required us to manifest this courage. Some of us have had to dig deeply. My own aspiration is that, in digging deeper to find that courage, those excavations will bring me into deeper touch with myself and all beings. May it enable me to cherish with greater reverence that kinship in which we all share. Two lines from “America the Beautiful” roll across my mind, “O beautiful for spacious skies, For amber waves of grain…” Amber is the color of the earth, for when the grain ripens, it turns amber or yellow, an endless, sunlit expanse of green and yellow waves, rippling in the wind, an invocation of summer’s full fruition, the promise of a bountiful future harvest. Now, today, we can appraise the stock of our bounty; we can celebrate the earth; we can be grateful for what we have, and feel modest pride in our labors. We are in this place. We are alive and it is good. And, as nothing is ever permanent, we must move forward and be called to manifest courage again and again. Like the many seeds of the pomegranate, the journey from birth to death is rife with challenges and opportunities. Having been born an American, the lyrics of “America the Beautiful” are imprinted in my mind. But when I reflect upon them honestly, in spite of their aspiration and promise, my heart constricts in sadness as I recall that we are not free. The consequences of needless poverty, obscene inequality, and endless war continue to assail us. Through our collective actions, our planet is heating beyond its ability to sustain life. Our presence on this earth wreaks havoc upon our environment, endangering and literally exterminating the more delicate forms of life that have flourished here for milennia. We tolerate the wanton, runaway exploitation of our resources, and there are some days when we seem to be wallowing in a swamp of greed, hatred, and delusion. And yet: “I believe in human beings that have courage, the courage to be human…” Pandemic or no, we will have to dig for the courage to meet and overcome the inevitable difficulties, problems, and failures in life. |
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