Omer Day 4 - Caring is Strategic

Today is the fourth day of the Counting of the Omer - a time when many Jews note each day between the Second Day of Passover and the next major holiday, Shavuot, or “weeks”. Each of the seven weeks and each of the seven days of these weeks correspond to a particular “sefirah” or “sphere”, or perhaps better, “a divine emanation”. These themes allow us to reflect on the days as we move from liberation to revelation in the Jewish calendar..

Today is the day of eternity, or victory, or ego (“netzach”) in the week of loving-kindness (“chesed”).

In combination with the reading below, I am reflecting on the long-term effects, the lasting impact of kindness from this day in the Omer, and the temporary effectiveness of the tools of conflict, as expressed in the Tao.

The lasting effect of compassion can be real, even if we don’t see it.

The lasting damage of conflict is real, and often both visible and unseen.

In both of these realms, the most profound effects are the least visible.

Let us not be easily swayed by the idea that a short-term visible impact makes the biggest difference.

Let us deliberate on the long-term effects of well-thought out kindnesses and compassion. Caring is strategic.

Wising all of you a meaningful day and a Happy week of spring festivals.

Before and after meditating today I read this:

[From The Lao Tzu (Tao-Te Ching) as found in Wing-Tsit Chan (translator and compiler), A Source Book in Chinese Philosophy, (1963), page 155, slightly adapted by Jonathan Freirich]

31.
Fine weapons are instruments of evil.
They are hated by all people.
Therefore those who possess Tao turn away from them.
The good ruler when at home honors the left (symbolic of good omens).
When at war they honor the right (symbolic of evil omens).
Weapons are instruments of evil, not the instruments of a good ruler.
When they use them unavoidably, they regard calm restraint as the best principle.
Even when they are victorious, they do not regard it as praiseworthy.
For to praise victory, is to delight in the slaughter of people.
One who delights in the slaughter of people will not succeed in the empire.
In auspicious affairs, the left is honored.
In un-auspicious affairs, the right is honored.
The lieutenant-general stands on the left.
The senior general stands on the right.
That is to say that the arrangement follows that of funeral ceremonies.
For the slaughter of the multitude, let us weep with sorrow and grief.
For a victory, let us observe the occasion with funeral ceremonies.

Omer Day 1 - home in the low places

Today is the first day of the Counting of the Omer - a time when many Jews note each day between the Second Day of Passover and the next major holiday, Shavuot, or “weeks”. Each of the seven weeks and each of the seven days of the week correspond to a particular “sefirah” or “sphere” or perhaps better, a divine emanation. These themes allow us to reflect on the days as we move from liberation to revelation in the Jewish calendar.

Today is the day of loving-kindness in the week of loving-kindness, so I will look at this idea in myself and in the world around me.

In combination with the Taoist text below, I thought of a line from Psalm 23 that has accompanied me through moments of difficulty, verse 4:

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil, for Thou art with me;
Thy rod and Thy staff, they comfort me.

Maybe the low places, “the valley of the shadow of death” in the Psalm, the “ravine of the world” and the “valley of the world” in the Lao Tzu below, are not places to emerge from but places to work in.

I don’t need to leave the low place, I need to notice that the low place is a source of good things. I don’t need to run away, I need to find the companionship of meaning and mystery that dwells most deeply in the low places.

And for the Counting of the Omer, I need to be guided by compassion for both myself, my situation, and for everyone else.

Wishing all of you meaningful counting, a Happy Passover, a celebratory Holi, and a good week.

Before and after meditating today I read this:

[From The Lao Tzu (Tao-Te Ching) as found in Wing-Tsit Chan (translator and compiler), A Source Book in Chinese Philosophy, (1963), page 154, slightly adapted by Jonathan Freirich]

28.
One who knows the male (active force) and helps to the female (the receptive element)
Becomes the ravine of the world.
Being the ravine of the world,
They will never depart from eternal virtue,
But return to the state of infancy.
One who knows the white (glory) and yet keeps to the black (humility),
Becomes the model for the world.
Being the model for the world,
They will never deviate from eternal virtue,
But return to the state of the Ultimate of Non-being.
One who knows glory but keeps to humility,
Becomes the valley of the world,
They will be proficient in eternal virtue,
And return to the state of simplicity (uncarved wood).
When the uncarved wood is broken up, it is turned into concrete things (as Tao is transformed into the myriad things).
But when the sage uses it, they become the leading official.
Therefore the great ruler does not cut up.