Musings on a Mid-Autumn Day

September begins with a long holiday and the lingering rains that started in August. The cool chill of the changing weather can already be felt in the wind. The season of the southwest monsoon has begun.

Perhaps it's the gentle breeze, the mild weather that makes my heart sink, filled with a vague, inexplicable sadness. Or maybe it's the sound of the school bell this morning that revives so many innocent childhood memories. It could also be the blue sky dotted with light white clouds drifting like soft cushions inviting me to play, making my heart soften, wanting to escape this busy, anxious life to wander and enjoy the gentle beauty of autumn.

The reason remains vague, yet the emotions are overflowing like a flood from the headwaters. Treat yourself to a leisurely stroll, to feast your eyes on and fully inhale the intoxicating scent of autumn.

Mid-autumn.

The streets blaze with the colors of flower carts. So many kinds of flowers compete to display their beauty. So many vibrant colors captivate people. Yet, I remain faithful to the white flower – the cosmos – nestled along the roadside in the countryside. Country roads are most beautiful in autumn, with patches of white flowers swaying and smiling in the wind. Not as dazzling as daisies, not as passionate as roses, just a simple white petal, modestly nestled by the roadside, yet it leaves a lasting impression on my heart. Flowers are only beautiful and fresh when they smile in the wind; cut flowers put in a vase will wilt overnight. Perhaps flowers don't allow themselves to depend on anyone, only allowing themselves to smile when they rise from Mother Earth, that's why.

My love for flowers probably began with the resilience of these delicate plants. They may look frail, but their vitality is incredibly strong. Just one rain shower is enough for the green shoots to burst forth from the earth and grow rapidly. The plants reach out to drink the dew and absorb nutrients from the soil to grow. Even months of drought cannot kill them; they cling to life, waiting for the next rain, silently saving their essence, waiting for the rain to fall before bursting into countless pristine white blossoms.

Wandering along winding country roads, I suddenly came across a vast lotus pond. The last lotus blossoms of the season still shone brightly, their fragrance still vibrant. Large, round lotus buds were beginning to open, their delicate green leaves forming a soft carpet that swayed gently in the breeze. In the morning, when the lotuses bloomed, their fragrance permeated the area around the pond, creating a serene and peaceful atmosphere. The owner of the lotus pond gently paddled her boat, cutting the large, round lotus buds in time for the early morning market. Watching her nimble hands, and the shyly nestled lotus buds, I felt a surge of admiration for this graceful flower. I bought a bunch of pink lotuses and placed them in a brown ceramic vase. I put on some old music, closed my eyes, and savored the melody, inhaling the fragrance of the flowers and listening to the gentle rain falling on the tin roof. My heart felt strangely at ease, as if the scent of the flowers had enveloped the house, warding off worries and anxieties, allowing gentleness to spread, and love to fill my heart…

In the middle of the month of atonement for the deceased, people flock to temples to chant scriptures and pray, observing daily vegetarianism in hopes of averting misfortune for themselves and their families. Recently, I saw a lot of buzz online about releasing birds, and then about the conflict between groups releasing fish and groups using electric fishing methods. Suddenly, my heart ached. As long as I remain deluded by the idea of releasing animals to avert karma, my karma will only grow greater. Buddha is me, and I am Buddha. Doing good deeds must stem from a kind heart, a desire to bring good to others, not from an exchange or giving in the hope of receiving. Giving is to spread love. Giving is to find peace of mind.

A friend of mine confided that every year in July, her volunteer group heads to mountainous provinces to distribute essential supplies to people in difficult circumstances. “There’s no electricity, no clean water up there, and the shops only sell a few meager items – it’s heartbreaking. Going to places like that makes you realize how much luckier and happier you are than so many others,” she shared. She said that each time she returns, she reflects on herself, reminding herself to try harder, to love herself more, because only self-love can create positive energy that spreads to those around her. Listening to her story, seeing the passion in her eyes, I suddenly felt so small, constantly preoccupied with worries about food and clothing, always complaining about my situation, unable to think more positively or empathize with the pain of others. If everyone were like her, giving a little, how beautiful life would be.

It's already mid-autumn. The seventh lunar month is almost over. The rainy season is also coming to an end. The storm, which lasted for over a week, hasn't subsided, leaving me with endless, rambling thoughts about human nature and the state of the world…

Source