Seeing nature entering autumn, not knowing my remaining years, perhaps already in my autumn or winter, I have to well use the rest of this life.
— Shilashanti (Part 1)
After drinking a full cup of tea, I went to the library, with my stack of almost due books. My mission planned is to skim through them all, to capture the gist of their messages, before returning them on the spot. The idea is to do this in one sitting, to be as concentrated as I can, while hopefully healthily holding in pee that might form.
At first, the ‘speed reading’ went alright, but as the hours went by, the call of nature became ‘louder’ and harder to ignore. This made me toggle between becoming more distracted and becoming more focused. I read more quickly yet less clearly, ‘fighting’ the urge to visit the loo outside, that is way too far for ‘convenience.’
Is this not like life itself, attempting to learn from life adequately and in time, before we really have to ‘go?’ We think there is enough time and remain lax, but sooner than expected, we have less time and become more stressed, to do what we should. We all have figurative tea turning to pee now, that we can only hold for so ‘long.’
May we all learn and practise the precious Dharma, as young (or old) as we can, and share it with others young and old too, for who knows how much or little time is left for everyone, for you and me? Incidentally, borrowed library books urge me to read more than usual, knowing they have due dates, unlike my ‘forever’ books bought!
Seeing nature entering spring, knowing my transpired years, perhaps already in my autumn or winter, I have to well reflect on that passed in this life.
— Shilashanti (Part 2)
