Day 36 / 37

Chirping of birds, wintry breeze titillating against your body and familiar voices of talking laughing pour aliveness in ears. Taking a moment to breath, to feel, to hear and to absorb all that is around brings in a stream of sudden intense peace which connects something within to something without. Initially, awareness of another dimension enters and then as the time goes by a gateway is opened into Nirvana; making it effortless to perceive animate souls in that dimension. Neither there exist any limitation nor hindrance of either time or space.

There is a red broadleaf tree just outside our home and I can to enjoy its presence from the window of my mom’s room. Few days ago its branches were full of brilliant red leaves and then the leaves started to fall off gradually leaving the tree leafless. But then tiny green leaves began to sprout and today when I looked at the tree it showed signs of new life and the branches are once again born but this time with green leaves. In summer all leaves start out as green due to presence of green pigment commonly known as chlorophyll. When these green pigments are abundant in the leaf's cells during the growing season, they mask out the colour of any other pigments that may be present in the leaf. But with autumn, comes a destruction of chlorophyll. This demise of green pigments allow other masked colours to be expressed. Those unmasked fall colours usually red, yellow or orange quickly become markers for individual deciduous tree species.

Life is quite similar to this tree since nothing ever remains constant; everything evolves into new beings. Whatever the condition is, it is designed to transform whether it is sadness or happiness. According to an ancient Sufi story there lived a King in some Middle Eastern land who was torn between happiness and despondency. The slightest thing would cause him great upset or provoke an intense reaction, and his happiness would quickly turn into disappointment and despair. A time came when the king finally got tired of himself and of life, and he began to seek a way out. He sent for wise man who lived in his kingdom and who was reputed to be enlightened. When the wise man came, the King said to him “I want to be like you. Can you give something that will bring balance, serenity, and wisdom into my life? I will pay any price you ask.”

The wise man said, “I may be able to help you. But the price is so great that your entire kingdom would not be sufficient payment for it. Therefore, it will be a gift for you if would honour it.” The king gave his assurances, and the wise man left.

A few weeks later, he returned and handed the king a box with a simple gold ring inside inscribed with the words This Too Shall Pass. “What is the meaning of this?” asked the king. The wise man said “Always wear this ring. Whatever happens before you call it good or bad, touch this ring and read the inscription. That way, you will always be at peace.”

The words inscribed on that ring are not simply meant to give comfort in bad times or that one should not enjoy the good in life but it shows the temporariness of every situation, which is due to impermanence of all forms- good or bad. Once we realize and truly accept the transitory nature of all things and the inevitability of change, we can enjoy the pleasures of the world while they last without the fear of loss or anxiety about the future.

It amazes me to see how sometimes we ignore our prudence and follow certain notions similar to a blindfolded Bull in a rut. There is no logic to it, no reason just plain following.

Until next time my love to all.

Sonya.