For spirit quivers in flesh like a bubble in water,
And after death one's good and evil deeds
Trail after one like the shadow trails the body.
Understanding that this most certainly is true,
May I discard every level of wrong,
And generate an infinite mass of goodness;
Inspire me to be thus continually aware. Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth,
while the evil days come not,
nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say,
I have no pleasure in them;
While the sun, or the light,
or the moon, or the stars, be not darkened,
nor the clouds return after the rain:...
Or ever the silver cord be loosed,
or the golden bowl be broken,
or the pitcher be broken at the fountain,
or the wheel broken at the cistern.
Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was:
and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.
Vanity of vanities, saith the preacher; all is vanity.
Ash Wednesday
Karl Spitzweg, ca. 1860
Dear friends,
As we gather here today on Ash Wednesday, we are reminded of our own mortality. The Bible reminds us that we are dust and to dust we shall return. Similarly, in the Buddhist tradition, we are taught that death can come quickly, and our deeds will follow us like a shadow.
It is important that we remember our Creator all our days, before the evil days come and we lose pleasure in life. We must live our lives with awareness of our actions, knowing that they will have consequences beyond this life. The Foundation of All Perfections teaches us to discard every level of wrong and to generate an infinite mass of goodness.
We must strive to live a life of goodness, to cultivate positive qualities such as compassion, kindness, and generosity. We must also let go of our attachment to material possessions and worldly pursuits, recognizing the fleeting nature of all things. As Ecclesiastes reminds us, all is vanity (the Hebrew word hebel carries the connotations of "transitory" and "unsatisfactory").
We must remember that our time on this earth is limited and that death is certain. The silver cord will be loosed, the golden bowl will be broken, and the pitcher will be broken at the fountain.
On this Ash Wednesday, let us reflect on our mortality and the impermanence of all things. Let us commit ourselves to living a life of goodness and cultivating positive qualities. May we be continually aware of the consequences of our actions and the importance of living a life of purpose and meaning.