Volume 46. December 20, 2023
American singer and songwriter Frankie Laine (1913-2007) once sang about the laziness of our lucky old Sun.
Up in the morning, out on the job,
Work like the devil for my pay.
But that lucky old sun has got nothing to do
But roll around heaven all day.
Sorry, Frankie, but that lucky old Sun actually has something very important to do. On December 21, 2023, at 9:27 PM CST, the Sun needs to stand still.
The winter solstice is that time of the year when the Sun reaches its lowest point on the horizon and appears to stand still.
Astronomically, it’s the longest night of the year. Symbolically, it’s a triumph of light over darkness. Spiritually, it’s a time of renewal. Essentially, the winter solstice is a time to party!
Many cultures commemorate this celestial event, marking the promise of the Sun’s gradual return.
Christians celebrate Christmas. Neo-Pagans observe Yuletide. African-Americans salute the season with Kwanzaa. The ancient Romans whooped it up at the Saturnalia.
Buddhists get busy by sitting in the still point of meditation.
For inspiration, they look to their master. On the night before his enlightenment, the Buddha entered a deep meditation.
Just then Mara, the Lord of Death, unleashed an army from hell. Wild bull elephants, snarling tigers, monkeys throwing javelins. The temptation of fear.
The Buddha remained unmoved.
Mara then paraded his three lovely daughters before our hero in a sort of strip tease. The temptation of desire.
The Buddha remained unmoved.
Desire is running toward stuff. Fear is running away from stuff.
Enlightenment is the still point between those polar opposites.
Buddhas sit in the still point between fear and desire.
On the winter solstice, the Sun reaches a still point.
In the Northern Hemisphere, the winter solstice happens once a year. In Buddhism, the still point occurs every day.
So, on December 21, not only the lazy, lucky old Sun but all of us have something important to do. We need to be still.
Once we sit down, relax and breathe, we reach the still point.
Then, it doesn’t matter if we fuss with our family, toil for our kids or work like the devil for our pay.
Enlightened, we can roll around heaven all day.
Merry Christmas!
The Buddha Times 