There’s a big spider residing outdoors my window. I do not understand how he obtained there; whether or not he climbed up or was carried by the wind, however he is been there all summer time.
Sadly, my window would not present enough safety for him. When it rains, the droplets batter the spider’s net like canon balls; tearing it to items. I used to be distraught the primary time this occurred.
However my spider pal remained calm. As an alternative of panicking, he retreated to a nook of the window. As soon as the world had dried out a bit, he emerged from his hiding place and constructed a brand new net. He was again to catching flies an hour later
This cycle has repeated itself a number of instances. And it’ll proceed till my neighbor is washed away in a downpour. However I love his steadfastness; his dedication to maintain going within the face of hardship. The primary noble fact of Buddhism states, “Life is struggling,” and the spider is aware of this higher than anybody.
However that does not cease him from going about his work. He is aware of extra rain will come, however he continues to spin his net. He is aware of the fruit of his labor can be destroyed. However he enjoys it whereas it is right here. And when life takes away all the things he is labored for, the spider retreats, regroups, after which goes again into the storm.
We construct issues. They break. We construct them once more. That is the reality of the world.
And if we wish to survive; we’ve got to reside like spiders. Now we have to just accept the futility of our actions, after which do them any approach. Now we have to reply to the damaging facets of life by creating one thing new over and over.
Our our bodies will fail us, {our relationships} will finish, and there’ll come a day when all the things we have labored for is washed away in a downpour of karmic rain. However the objects of our affection are stunning. And so they’re value having; even when we will not have them perpetually.
So, when life takes them away, we enable ourselves to grieve. Like a spider, we retreat into our nook of the world for some time, however we do not keep there. Ultimately, we regroup and return into the storm. Now we have work to do.
Namu Amida Butsu
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