Hello and welcome to this edition of the Nüwa!
I’ll begin with a story. Some years ago, I lived in a Quanzhen temple perched on the side of a mountain. After many months practising martial arts and meditation, I couldn’t imagine going back into the world. I worried about changing, the loss of discipline and clarity of mind. One late summer day after lunch, I found Shifu sitting in the courtyard and shared these concerns with him.
Cigarette clamped between two fingers, he pointed to the sky and replied, “Look at the sun. It doesn’t question what it does. It simply follows its course, rising and setting every day. The moon is similar. Look at rocks. They don’t feel anxious about their place in the world. Trees grow according to their nature and the environment. It’s only humans who feel anxious, who struggle to find their place in the world.”
Wanting Sumptuous Heavens, by Robert Bly
No one grumbles among the oyster clans, And lobsters play their bone guitars all summer. Only we, with our opposable thumbs, want Heaven to be, and God to come, again. There is no end to our grumbling; we want Comfortable earth and sumptuous Heaven. But the heron standing on one leg in the bog Drinks his dark rum all day, and is content.
So you should view this fleeting world. Row, row, row your boat A star at dawn, a bubble in a stream, Gently down the stream. A flash of lightening in a summer cloud, Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily… A flickering lamp, a phantom, and a dream. Life is but a dream.
Thank you for reading this edition of the Nüwa Newsletter, I hope you enjoyed it! Every fourth week I take off writing. See you again on Wednesday 10 August.
Oscar
Very refreshing I turn to you, more and more