Wednesday, April 26, 2017

Oh water - Turtle Island

Water is such a wonderful symbol.  It is powerful, cleansing, pure, and life-giving.  This poem starts with a call to water, asking it to “wash me.” Isn’t it so true that one of water’s most basic functions is to wash.  I would argue that next to hydrating, that is its key function. Other images in this poem are mountains humming and crumbling, and again with the water but this time as snow melting.  It ends saying “earth, great, sangha.”  I looked up to find that sangha means a Buddhist community of holy people and laity.  I think it is nice word to end on because like the sangha combines different types of people, our earth combines many kinds of creatures. Event the water itself is similar in its many uses and forms.  In thinking about my own relationship with water, I have to say that I love it.  Though I am scared of what lies in the deep waters of the oceans, I am mesmerized by the sound of waves, the elegance of waterfalls, and the calming presence of even small ponds.  Being around water, whether it be in the ocean or a shower, is just rejuvenating.  Its properties are pure and clean, and so it is such a prominent symbol and tool in religions as well.  

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