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A RANDOM PAGE OF MAY - FRUIT GATHERING BY RABINDRANATH TAGORE
A RANDOM PAGE OF MAY - FRUIT GATHERING BY RABINDRANATH TAGORE
"I know that at the dim end of some day the sun will bid me its farewell.
Shepherds will play their pipes beneath the banyan trees, and cattle graze on the slope by the river, while my days will pass into the dark.
This is my prayer, that I may know before I leave why the earth called me to her arms.
Why her night's silence spoke to me of stars, and her daylight kissed my thoughts into flower.
Before I go may I linger over my last refrain, completing its music, may the lamp be lit to see your face and the wreath woven to crown you."
Reading this poem, Chân Đất feels that Tagore portrays death in an incredibly poetic and wistful way, filled with a longing for life's beauty. Because of this, he cannot help but savor every remaining beautiful day - where every landscape, sound, and human activity gathers before his eyes. From this love of life springs creativity, making existence more complete and meaningful. This was a random page of poetry Chân Đất happened upon, and it coincidentally resonates deeply with our recent experiences of separation and loss. It feels like a blessing to share this connection with someone who lived over a century ago. Truly, this is the precious gift of books, don’t you think?
If you have a favorite Tagore poem, please share it with Chân Đất!
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Each month, we randomly select pages from a writer whose birthday falls in that month to share our reflections. This month, we’re introducing:
Author of the Month: Rabindranath Tagore (May 7, 1861) - A poet, musician, philosopher, and Indian nationalist who was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1913. Tagore’s poetry is renowned for its gentle, profound language and musicality, harmoniously blending spirituality and nature. The Fruit-Gathering (the poem shared by Chân Đất) is excerpted from Selected Poems of Tagore. Enjoy!
CHAN DAT DISCOVERY - ART EXHIBITION "NATURE - HUMAN HOI AN"
CHAN DAT DISCOVERY - ART EXHIBITION "NATURE - HUMAN HOI AN"
Chân Đất have just visited this exhibition and enjoyed the artworks created by two talented artists, Khoa Pham and Hồ Son. Their pieces are crafted using traditional lacquer (sơn ta) on coconut paper—a unique and locally rooted medium that reflects both heritage and meticulous artistry.
This exhibition is open to everyone, especially art enthusiasts who appreciate the beauty of culture and nature. Chan Dat felt happy when we immersed ourselves in the poetic, luminous beauty captured through the artists' brushstrokes and their choice of materials.
You can visit Moc Gallery (Hoi An Ancient Town) to see the works and have an interesting conversation with the artist!
Our practitioner lens of Meditation
Our practitioner lens of Meditation
Buddhist theory emphasizes the pairing of concepts such as "Compassion" with "Wisdom" and "Awareness" with "De-Attachment (Letting Go)" This pairing is crucial because having compassion without wisdom can lead to misunderstanding and repression. Similarly, if someone embraces "Letting Go" without the necessary "Awareness" to recognize their attachments, the act of letting go can be misguided, as we cannot truly let go of what we do not acknowledge. Many individuals struggle with knowing when to repress emotions or let go of attachments, often failing to distinguish between what is right and wrong. This confusion typically arises when a person's understanding of the Way does not "match" with their life experiences.
The Way and Life, with Chan Dat, emphasizes that there is no Way independent of life. Life is clearly defined through the relationships we have, ranging from the closest to the farthest. This includes self-understanding, understanding our parents and siblings, our careers and work, as well as our relationships with friends, colleagues, and society. For Chan Dat, meditation is a method of "exercising the brain" that directly impacts our mindset. It encourages us to delve inward and understand what is happening in our lives. There are various states of experience in meditation; however, we do not focus on trying to explain these experiences directly—such as why we see light, why it feels like we are spinning while meditating, or why strange images appear. Instead, we concentrate on how our understanding and attitude toward relationships in life change after meditation, and what actionable steps we can take to address real-life problems. This is the essence of life that we encounter when we open our eyes, in contrast to the closed-eye experience of meditation.
"Searching" (noun) can often feel like a maze where we all can easily get lost. To truly awaken ourselves, we must confront the truth about life's contradictions and unresolved problems. If "Searching" does not lead us to the core solutions of life, then it can be seen as the Devil's Way (Dhammapada).
Sadhu.
A RANDOM PAGE OF APRIL - MEDITATION BY MARCUS AURELIUS
A RANDOM PAGE OF APRIL - MEDITATION BY MARCUS AURELIUS
"The ruling principle is that which rouses and turns itself, and while it makes itself such as it is and such as it wills to be, it also makes everything which happens appear to itself to be such as it wills." - Meditation 6.8
When reading this sentence, Chan Dat connects with four key concepts based on experience:
1. Priority Order: This refers to identifying what is most valuable and meaningful to us. Depending on your stage in life, age, and overall context, you should focus on solving and developing specific priorities.
2. Losing the Big Picture: When we concentrate solely on achieving your top priority goal (which may lead to some successes), it is easy to overlook other important aspects of life that are also valuable.
3. Reflecting and Adjusting: As clear problems arise, we begin to reflect and reassess our priorities.
4. When observing yourself, you will recognize such repetitive patterns, constantly peeling off the layers, from there delving into the full meaning of life.
And, what are your thoughts?
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Each month, we will choose random pages of the book by an author whose birthday is that month to share our thoughts. In April, we will read "Meditations" by Marcus Aurelius, born on April 26, 121 AD. He was the "wise emperor" of Rome. This book is a personal diary where Aurelius shares his thoughts on self-improvement, not meant for publication. It offers simple insights into human nature and the world.
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