Hari OM
Story-day is for cultural exploration, puraanas and parables and finding out about leading lights in spiritual philosophy.
One of the most used parables for ending of a year is that of the farmer sowing his seeds and how some fall to the edges of the field and thus do not thrive. Commonly, this is used to direct a congregation to the idea of being focused on where they are 'sowing'. Putting efforts into something that others consider devoid of benefit can seem like landing on the barren ground.
However, consider never sowing seeds at all. What of the harvest then? Then there are the summers that the sound ground is used, but there are other circumstances which affect the balance and growth is not as expected. Does the farmer give up? No! Farmers are among the most resilient of human beings, weathering all states of harvest, or lack or even loss of it. The farmer knows that all his or her best efforts can only amount to anything if the climate brings its side. The farmer has faith in the constancy of conditions. The farmer maximises their knowledge of their land, assesses worst and best case scenarios and sows the seeds, regardless. Any harvest is better than no harvest.
What has this to do with the impending new year? Well, traditionally this is the time when we all take a step back and look at what we thought we might have achieved in the previous year and when we resolve to make the next one better. We do this as much out of faith in the prevailing conditions as from any kind of certainty. What needs to be remembered, though, is that we are our own fields.
If we work on 'tilling' and preparing ourselves, we can find ourselves in better fettle for tackling what the world throws at us. We can undertake tasks in a stronger frame of mind, in a balanced state of being and with more creativity. If we lose ourselves in barrenness, be that through poor dietary and social habits, undisciplined work habits, unsound emotional states, for example, then our 'field' will not produce the level of crop we desire. Just wishing for it will never work. Any farmer will tell you. It's jolly hard work!
Let not 'resolutions' of the turning of the year be about menial and meaningless things. Ponder who you are, how you are and where you are. Seek to improve that internal soil, then you are more likely to find that the efforts you put into 'sowing seeds' are going to give a yield both satisfying and plentiful.
YAM xx
