Nothing is Permanent

Fingal's Cave Looking Inward.

If you can remember the painting of two days ago, even you cannot you look back and see it, you will realise that this is the same cave looking not out to sea but inward to the inner depths of the cave. I am sure you can imagine what this would be like of a stormy day with high rolling waves crashing into this narrowing space. Not a place you would wish to be let me assure you.

I listened to the music of  Felix Mendelssohn The Hebridean Overture, stirring and I hope in those two painting I have captured it?

On a calm day, the water has a crystal luminescence to it and the waves bring a real sense of peace to the listener.  

To stand at either time there is a powerful sense of the frailty of man that the wonder of nature. But the reality is that even this great cave is not a thing of lasting permanence, it is like everything else in a state of change and flux just at a much slower pace.

Buddha was travelling through a forest. The day was hot,  it was just midday,  he felt thirsty, so he said to his disciple Ananda, “Go back. We crossed a little stream. You go back and fetch, some water for me, please.”

Ananda went back, but the stream was very small and some carts were passing through it.

The water was disturbed and had become dirty. All the dirt that had settled in it had come up, and the water was not drinkable now. 

So Ananda thought, “I shall have to go back.” He went back and he said to Buddha, “That water has become absolutely dirty and it is not drinkable. Allow me to go ahead. I know there is a river just a few miles away from here. I will go and fetch water from there.”

Buddha said, “No! You go back to the same stream.” 

As Buddha had said this Ananda had to follow it, but he followed it with half a heart as he knew that the water would not be brought. And time was being unnecessarily wasted and he was feeling thirsty, but when Buddha said it he had to go.

Again he came back and he said, “Why did you insist? That water is not drinkable.”

Buddha said, “You go again.” And as Buddha said it, Ananda had to follow.

The third time he reached the stream, the water was as clear as it had ever been. The dust had flowed away, the dead leaves had gone, and the water was pure again. 

Then Ananda laughed. He brought the water and he came dancing. 

He fell at Buddha’s feet and he said, “Your ways of teaching are miraculous. You have taught me a great lesson,  that just patience is needed and nothing is permanent.”

So it is with everything. It is difficult to have patience with an illness but it is not permanent and even if it is we can learn patience and live with what we have. Everything that comes our way is a teacher of one thing or another. 

My sincere thanks for your ongoing concern, this too will pass. Have a wonderful day.