PRAYER (To the sun above the clouds) – A Grook by Piet Hein
Sun that givest all things birth
Shine on everything on earth!If that’s too much to demand
Shine at least on this our landIf even that’s too much for thee
Shine at any rate on me
Sometimes if feels as if the rain is only falling on us, or that the wind is out to chase us – just us! Is it possible that the rain, wind, and other maladies are demons out to cause trouble for us?
How can rain be anything but falling? If it’s not falling, is it rain?
How can wind be anything but blowing? If it’s not blowing, is it the wind?
How can we be anything than who we are?
If it sounds like a Zen koan, maybe it’s because it was something which Thay pointed out.
Okay, you’re saying this sounds like some existential tree-falling-in-the-woods philosophical junk.
Also, this type of radical acceptance of things as they are might also sound Panglossian or Pollyannish.
Maybe so, although it’s just as hard to argue the opposite side – that rain is our enemy, the wind is always blowing against us, this is the worst of all worlds, or that we should look on the bad (realistic?) side of things.
May as well pick what works!
My appreciation for the wind is matched by my dislike of the rain. Yin Yang?
Hi Eric,
Thanks for your well-balanced perspective!
It’s yet one more thing I appreciate about you.
Vincent
“May as well pick what works!”
Then again, there’s no obligation for us to pick either; but if we must . . .
We could just let the tree of thought fall as it will and hear nothing.
Haha. In Sao Paulo there is nothing more that they want right now then rain. Without the rain, no one there will be able to drink, nor wash dishes, nor take a shower. Hmmmmmm. The rain does good and bad. Just like the wind does good or bad. I sure appreciate the wind on hot Brazilian days. Depends on the situation and context I guess. On another note, just because one believes something is the truth, or thinks they can ‘create’ their own truth, does that make it truth? Lots of philosophy here eh. Hehehe. Don’t mean to be heavy. Just putting it out there.
🙂
Cool and breezy. Great post. Enjoyed it. 😀
It falls on us all so we might as well appreciate it. The rain can be delicious in moderation. I find the sound to be soothing. An invigorating walk in the rain causes my mind to wander and my soul to feel refreshed.