This post was originally written on day 13 of Bhante Sumano’s limited-run, daily, January newsletter, Anicca. It’s reposted here with minimal edits.
a night at the museum
A friend recommended we stop by the New Museum here in New York to see the current exhibition there—Soft Water, Hard Stone. The title is inspired by a Brazilian proverb, which felt very dharmic when I read it:
Água mole em pedra dura, tanto bate até que fura. (Soft water on hard stone hits until it bores a hole).
I invite you to let the phrase resonate with you whichever way it will.
For me, it’s a reminder of a number of things. One is the inevitability of change and decay—that the passage of time spares no one and no thing. This doesn’t have to be grim, but it does mean that conditions are impermanent, so how are we spending our time?
Another is that gentle but consistent effort eventually yields results—whether that’s in learning a new skill, developing in the practice, or trying to transform oneself. As the saying goes, slow progress is still progress.
It’s like the simile of the nautical ropes, found in the Connected Discourses 22.101:
Suppose there was a sea-faring ship bound together with ropes. For six months they deteriorated in the water. Then in the cold season it was hauled up on dry land, where the ropes were weathered by wind and sun. When the clouds soaked it with rain, the ropes would readily collapse and rot away. In the same way, when a mendicant is committed to development their fetters readily collapse and rot away.
It’s through development, over time, that effort bears fruit. Much like the seasons and rhythms I mentioned yesterday. We plant the seeds and care for them, but they need time and care to grow, at the pace that they will.
The same applies to both internal and external conditions. It’s discouraging, sometimes, to not see the change we want now. But, little by little, with each step—if we keep going—we move closer to the goal until whoosh: “the ropes readily collapse and rot away.”
P.S: We had a pleasant surprise today when an old friend stopped by with a meal offering. I share it here because I’m grateful for the kindness and generosity we’ve received since arriving (and before!). Truly.
Until tomorrow, lovely people—
Bhante Sumano