Brian’s Reflection: Friday, January 18, 2008


An opening in the storming sea,
Gold deposited on bones.
Once accumulation has begun,
Take care not to interfere.

- Deng Ming Dao




This quote relates to a story of a pious man whose father died. A geomancer told him to bury the casket at a place in the sea which was only accessible once in a hundred years. A family who did this would experience great fortune. The son threw the casket there. Then he regretted it. Encouraged by a rival geomancer, he soon retrieved it. Opening the casket, he saw that his father’s bones were very thinly covered with gold. Realizing the potential, he wanted to throw it back.

Too late.

A parable of Life, yes?

I read this story years ago. We don’t know how much time we have. Or where we will be. Or what we will be doing. These things are likely, especially these days, to change. But Life is a work in progress. Something you have to keep working on, fine-tuning. I remember thinking - Whatever the tools I have to work with, in whatever setting, my goal is to keep working on my Life and to keep at it until, to use a Biblical image, the dross has been refined into pure gold. (I forget; so I need to be reminded!)

We may see little happening on a daily basis. But keep at it. Be patient, and trusting. Especially in seeking “holy wisdom”.

“Once accumulation has begun / Take care not to interfere.”

Brian+