RISING AND FALLING
Image Source: Adam Melrose (Unsplash)
"All that happens is waves rising and falling, neither inauspicious nor meaningful." - The fifth and final Dharma Suktam of the Sundalahari Text.
Author's note - My wife and I recently returned from a ten-day trip to the Big Island of Hawaii. While sitting on our second-story condo balcony, I made a curious observation about a continuous event that occurred - a life lesson offered by a fish that dwells in the Pacific Ocean.
The yellow tang fish (also known as the lemon sailfin) lives among the coral reef in its natural habitat of Kona, Hawaii. Early one morning, while eating breakfast, I observed several schools of yellow tang clinging to the volcanic coral reef in the shallow waters of the Pacific. These fish held their own against the rising and falling of the waves. As the tide rose, I was confident that a school would die by washing ashore. However, as the tide receded, the fish remained steadfast in their domain.
I watched this occurrence for several days, and the same result emerged—the schools of tang remained unphased by the turmoil created by the waves. The mission of the yellow tang is to feed on turf algae. Additionally, they offer a "cleaning" service to marine turtles (green sea turtles in Kona) by removing algae from their shells - all while the unforgiving ocean tide batters the shoreline. What a great lesson - continue to move forward despite the obstacles that stand in the way.
We were born into existence for a reason, a mission, a purpose. Like waves rise and fall, the human experience offers ups and downs. When life becomes chaotic, ride this flow, and accept that each occurrence is neither inauspicious (unpromising) nor meaningful (unique/special). They are what they are - take what you learn, let go of what no longer serves you, and continue on your path through this lifetime.
This story reminds me of a lyric in John Denver's song Calypso when he wrote, "To live on the land, we must learn from the sea." In this post, I have included a video I recorded of the tang riding the waves of their lives. If you look closely, you will bear witness as well. Until next time-
Namaste,
Tim