The Moon

One morning at the Temple, I ventured out into the garden before dawn, drawn by something beyond sleep.

Hovering near the horizon, the moon bathed the garden pond in a gentle glow. Each ripple in the water caught and refracted its light, creating a tapestry of luminous arcs as if the moon were fragmenting into a thousand shimmering pieces.

In that moment, I saw the pond as a canvas displaying the moon’s serene light, each ripple reflecting the moon and the entire cosmos. It was a vivid reminder that life’s vastness can be seen in the simplest, most ephemeral moments.

Like the moon’s reflection in each ripple, every human life, with joys and sorrows, encompasses the whole cosmos. Spiritual awakening doesn’t transform us into something new; it reveals that the universe’s infinite drama plays out through our everyday lives.

I paused to consider that the universe is expressing itself through me in every moment. Each event, significant or trivial, mirrors a broader reality.

This doesn’t solve my problems but invites me to view life through a broader lens. I am not an isolated individual but an integral part of a larger narrative, each reflecting and refracting the universe’s truths through my existence. I so often forget this when I chase after fleeting things.

While the idea of enlightenment might offer a grand vision, in reality, it arises in our small, daily choices. It suggests a life of awareness, recognizing the interconnectedness of all things and being present in every moment.

As the moon continued its journey across the dawn sky, the reflections merged into the daylight. The universe, briefly caught in the web of ripples, moved on, as it always does.

With each event, no matter how mundane, the entire cosmos is beautifully and tragically played out.

- Sokei