May 11th

Meaning


Lightning tears temple asunder.
Divine wrath, or natural disaster?

There was a seaside temple in India that was struck by lightning. That minor storm was the vanguard to a full hurricane that eventually ravaged the entire countryside. The old temple was split from its roof line to its foundations. One entire end of the building was parted from its body like a severed head. Was this karma? Was this the punishment of the gods? Or was it simply an old building and an unfortunate accident?What you say shows your attitude about nature, reality, and whether you believe gods intervene in human affairs. If you insist that there was some reason that lightning cleaved the temple, then you live in a world where uncertainty is the by-product of some supreme being's emotional whims. If, however, you accept this incident solely as a natural disaster, then you also accept random occurrences in life. Such a viewpoint does not preclude any notion of the divine, of course. It merely states that not everything in nature is administered by some heavenly bureaucracy.
It is a simple fact that lightning split the temple. The meaning of this incident -- if there is any -- is determined by each person. One person regards it as a disaster, another as a good thing, while a third views it dispassionately. There is nothing inherent in the incident that dictates its meaning. It is enough that we all recognize that it happened.

Personal Interpretation


We are likely to witness much loss and devastation in our lives. Is it all part of some deity's plan or mere randomness? What we believe speaks measures about how we see the world and respond to crisis. It is enough for Taoists to admit that a thing happened and to attempt to move on. We don't have a profound need to know why because such resolution cannot possibly change what has happened. Ultimately, nature is not good or evil.  It simply is. Erupting volcanoes obliterate the surrounding area and also enrich the soil. Rains nourish crops and destroy homes. Nature gives and nature takes away. We must be able to respond to whatever happens. In the end, we have free will and are responsible for using it as we see fit. Our exposure to destruction is the foundation on which we can build the most meaningful lives. When we operate within a dualistic frame of mind, we may find ourselves less troubled by disaster.