The End of the Year,
Budha and The Balance
(originaly published in portuguese at www.itu.com.br ,... aqui em português)
Once again we’re approaching Rosh Hashaná. The Jewish new year’s. A moment of introspection and reflection. In mine antithesis, here I come to share my thoughts. In this moment I think about my life, my acts, my beeing; and I face the challenge of maintaining the balance. So simple and so deeply hard.
In the last weeks this lesson has shown itself specially present for me. What is the exact moment that we lose the ideal swing of things? Do not necessarily in a blast of rage, but, for example, in an exacerbate of joy and enthusiasm, that makes us lose the contact with ourselves, lose our limits and exaggerate. An injured leg in the enthusiasm of a game, drinking too much in the enthusiasm of a party, speak too much in the joy of a conversation… Nothing to be condemned, because in no way is a mistake to be condemned. But how can we keep our balance?
I see the image of an artist walking over a thin cord. He, perhaps an example of equilibrium, does not walk static and without movement. He walks hanging, from one side to another. That’s indeed what balance is made of: imbalances that don’t make us fall, but keep us in a constant swing that make us move in the search of the perfect balance, ...that we’ll never find.
But the movement Will lead us across the abyss, keeping us on the thin line, making of each swing, an opportunity of learn.
Let me share a small Buddhist story, of an author about whom little its known, other than He was an Indian monk, of the 5th century.
A man considered a bit of a fool was invited to a banquet in the house of a distinguished cook. Upon tasting the food, He accused it immediately to be without any taste. The host, the cook, tryed it right away, and smiling, spread a pinch of salt over it. The guest once again tasted the food, and felt himself fascinated with the marvelous flavor. Immediately He concluded, obviously, that the marvelous flavor was due to the salt, thinking: If a small pinch of salt has such a divine taste, one can imagine what does a full spoon of it! He droped his food to the garbage, and filled his plate of the seasoning, leading to his mouth a full spoon of salt!
To horrible sensation of a full mouth of salt, instead of a delicious meal it’s the price for not realizing that is the balance of things that builds harmony and beauty.
Balance is subtle, and can not always be seen. But It is in the balance of elements that each one can do it’s best, and the absence of an element, no matter how tiny it is, can stop that beauty.
Those who believe they are isolated from others, and do not need another to be it’s better version. Those Who doesn’t understand the value of collectiveness, of the group, of the whole, will end up with a salty taste in their mouth. What is not so good in this time of the year, when we eat candies to sweeten the year to come.
Just as the salt, candies alone will not make the year sweet.
In this Rosh Hashana, with so many dilemmas surrounding our people and humanity, I hope we’ll be able to extend our conscience about the balance, and the understanding of collectivenes.
Shaná Tová! Good year.
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