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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 Cycle With The Peach Moon One year has passed since the last entry. Covid-19 is still active in the country and in my home state. Recommendations are still to restrict. Even though the ‘feel’ of things is improving, and even the business I work for is considering having employees return to the office over the next few months, the virus is still active. People are still dying here; in other countries, the pandemic is raging, the worst news coming out of India and Brazil. We are not out of danger yet… Improvements there have been. Vaccines have been produced and are now becoming widely available. I am fully vaccinated and feel somewhat relieved as such, but there is no evidence to say that I cannot spread the virus. So I stay masked in public, careful, and wait. Are things getting better, worse, or staying the same? Are we in a ‘holding pattern?’ Am I losing vital moments, days, years of my life due to the restrictions, imposed either from within or without, from Covid-19? Are things good or bad? The following story has often helped me to look at these questions on a deeper level. Once, there was a man named Sa Weng who lived on the border (presumably of China) and raised horses. One day, one of his horses disappeared. Sa Weng’s neighbor knew that the loss of a horse was a significant blow to a man like Sa Weng, and he did his best to comfort him and console him for his bad fortune. Sa Weng would just reply, “Perhaps bad, perhaps good.” Sa Weng’s horse reappeared one day in the company of another horse, even more imposing in beauty and strength than Sa Weng’s horse. When the neighbor heard of Sa Weng’s good fortune, he came over to congratulate him. All Sa Weng would say is, “Perhaps bad, perhaps good.” Sa Weng’s son loved the new horse and rode it every chance he got. One day, the horse threw him after it spied a snake crawling near its path. The fall broke Sa Weng’s son’s leg. When the neighbor head this development, he came to commiserate with his old friend once more about his bad luck. All Sa Weng would say is. “Perhaps bad, perhaps good.” Sa Weng lived in a border area plagued by conflict from the adjoining country. One day, the king of his province declared war on the adjoining land. Hundreds of young men were called up and conscripted to serve in the military, but Sa Weng’s son was given a deferment due to the injury that had left him partially disabled. When the neighbor came to share the news that his own son had been called to gloriously defend their country, he tried to console Sa Weng on the bad fortune that had crippled his son. All Sa Weng would say is, “Perhaps bad, perhaps good.” The war waged on an there was great loss of life.Many of the young men who had been drafted from Sa Weng’s village never came back. After the passing of his father, Sa Weng’s son lived to a ripe old age. All we ever have is our ever-changing reaction to ever-changing events. We may seem to be stuck in a slough, but the ever-flowing movement of time and space continues to eddy through our days. Perhaps bad, perhaps good. May we do our best with what our lives present to us. |
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