Oof, my legs are sore. But it is rather nice.
I just got back from a good walk around the city. It is still full of visitors who came for Zuko and Mai's wedding. Some of the guests are awaiting ships to take them back home, but I think others are staying because they see money to be made off of the remaining crowds, heh.
As I was wandering among the booths in the market square, I noticed a set of brightly colored scrolls. I stopped to look at them, and I was astonished by their titles! One said, "Firebending without the Boring Parts." What is boring about firebending? But there were others as well. There was "Sword Fighting without the Boring Parts," "Nature without the Boring Parts," "The Avatar State without the Boring Parts." There was even "Tea Brewing without the Boring Parts." What could possibly be boring about making tea?!
But I was interested. A scroll that illuminated only the most interesting parts of teamaking could, perhaps, help others to enjoy what I appreciate so much! Ah, but I was disappointed. The scroll left out all the best parts! It emphasized strange things, like supposed magical powers that can be imparted by a combination of mythical leaves. It spoke of nothing but theoretical guesswork on the origins of tea, most of which was simply untrue. But I would not mind such entertaining ideas, were they not promoted at the expense of the joys that the scroll called "boring."
I decided not to be too hasty, however. Perhaps it was only the tea scroll that was a little esoteric. After all, teamaking is not the most widely known topic, heh heh. So I picked up the firebending scroll. Here again, I was met with a sad sight. The fundamentals of firebending were hardly even mentioned! The basics, the foundations upon which all other firebending depends, were referred to as "things that everyone knows, but are hardly exciting."
And there was the problem, just where it is so often.
If anyone truly understands the basics of firebending, then he will see why they are worth being excited about! But while it is easy to learn the fundamental moves and principles, it is much harder to master them, and far harder still to *understand* them. A lifetime can be devoted to the basics alone, and they will continue to yield new treasures of insight and ability. It is only with such understanding that a firebender can have a sure foundation that will allow him to master any number of more advanced skills. Without the basics, a firebender is like a volcano: Very violent, and spectacular to behold! But in the end, volatile, wild, and self-destructive.
This firebending scroll explained some of the oddest theories about firebending that I have ever heard. It claimed to reveal the very origins of firebending itself, but its strange hypothesis (which it portrayed as fact) was quite a...uh...colorful fancy, if I may be so bold as to say so. It surely bore little resemblance to the history as the Spirits tell it... But when would-be scholars turn up their noses at the basics, what else could we hope to expect?
The key is appreciation. Appreciation for everything, especially the little things, and not just the large or the flashy. My brother was once one of the most externally powerful benders in all the world, but if only he had cared for the basics, who knows what new secrets of bending he might have unlocked? Perhaps it is a good thing that he did not, heh, but maybe if he had he would have developed a somewhat more balanced outlook on the world.
For you see, the basics are all interconnected. The basics of firebending are intertwined with the basics of every other element. To truly understand one element is to understand and appreciate them all. To truly understand plants, one must learn about the stars. To fully understand others, one must uncover mysteries about himself. But without the basics, sciences and studies become separate from one another. That is when they stray into strange paths and wander away from the real world.
I would like to write a scroll called "Firebending Made Not-Boring-At-All!" For the truth is that a master who really understands anything will understand the wonder of it! Such a master can teach others to find that same delight for themselves, even in the basics. It is actually in the deepest fundamentals that the majestic elegance of our world shines most brightly! Not only is a foundation necessary for the stable use of more advanced skills; it is necessary in and of itself, for its own sake. That is where true power and knowledge are locked, and true peace as well.
I have known young firebenders who sought discipline, but had difficulty when they were faced with the tedium of the basics. If only they had had someone to teach them why the basics were so interesting! And I have known others who were wise enough to desire to learn the basics, who wanted to slow down and learn *why* fire behaves as it does, *why* movements of the body produce flame, and *why* some people can bend while others cannot...but I have watched sadly as even such wise students were hurried along by impatient masters. I remember one in particular, who told his eager young pupil, "You don't need to know why! Just memorize the movements!"
Memorization, rote learning, makes everything boring. In that condition, what choice does the mind have but to flee to strange and fanciful ideas? For our minds seek to delight in their universe. We all know deep down that the world is a remarkable wonderland, and we yearn to experience that wonder. But impatient learning, motivated by the desire for quick external output, blinds us to it. It blinds us to the all-important *why.* Our world is marvelous, but it is not the wild, sprawling splatter that some theories assert it to be.
We do not need to turn to fairy-tale ideas for excitement; our world is even more magnificent, if only we will develop eyes to see! If we think the real world is a place of dreary work and mere survival, then we are living in an unnecessary bad dream. Don't get me wrong, I always love a good fairy tale! But I most appreciate tales that serve as reflections of the world as it is. Those stories resonate inside all of us, not because of mere spectacle or excitement, but because of their meaning.
Anyway, I bought the tea scroll. It will make for funny reading, and I think the bright orange color will go nicely with the decor at my teashop!
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
It's Not Treasonous, Right?
I found this posted in the marketplace! I think Ty Lee may be behind it.
It's true, though!
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
The Wedding!
My nephew, Firelord Zuko, is now married! And he looks so happy! Even Mai could not stop smiling all day yesterday.
They were married yesterday at ten in the morning. The Great Fire Sage performed their ceremony, of course. He is losing the last of his hair, now, though he is still as skinny as a wizened old stick. I am sure I caught him laughing at my belly that afternoon. But I needed somewhere to balance my third plate of cinder puffs! I don't think he even ate anything.
Poor fellow. I should suggest that Zuko get him a nurse to make sure he looks after himself, ha ha! I am sure he would appreciate my thoughtfulness, heh.
But yes, he performed the wedding ceremony. Zuko and Mai both looked wonderful. Zuko wears the robe of the Firelord well. Avatar Aang was beside him as his best man, and Mai had chosen her friend Ty Lee to be her maid of honor. The courtyard was filled to overflowing with friends from every nation. Literally overflowing: there were people sitting on top of all the walls!
Zuko had prepared a short speech including vows of loyalty and love for his bride, but he seemed to have forgotten it as soon as he saw her. The heartfelt vows that he spoke instead were far better than his rehearsed speech could have been. Even though he stuttered through every word, heh, and even if he was starting to look a little bit green by the end, I have never heard more passion or conviction, not even from him.
When it looked like he was really getting ready to faint, though, that was when Mai told him that it was "enough already," ha ha ha, because she had vows of her own. She did not turn green, though. Oh well. She expressed her love and faithfulness to him. She also expressed a rather lengthy list of Zuko's, uh, shortcomings, but she said that she loved him because of them and not inspite of them. It was really very touching.
When the Great Sage concluded the ceremony, Zuko and Mai were presented to the throng as husband and wife, Firelord and Firelady. Every small, blind earthbender in attendance shouted unrepeatable recommendations of the new couple's next activities. Everyone else just cheered. Tradition, I guess.
After that, Zuko and Mai stood for three hours while many formed a line to offer them kind congratulations. Meanwhile I went to make sure that the wedding supper tasted acceptible. The Avatar found me after only a couple plates, but he could offer no opinion on the smoked kasugo I gave him. He said something about vegetarianism. I understand that he is an airbender, but he bends fire too! How can someone appreciate fire without tasting the heat of a fine cut of meat? Mmmm...
Soon the head servants arrived, though, and they chased me from the kitchen, sending me off with nothing more than a handful of rescued sweet rolls.
Back in the main hall, the party had already begun. It was excellent. Aang performed several times for all to see. He got some of the guests very wet at one point, ha ha, but the waterbenders helped him dry everyone off. When the people asked to see a reenactment of the Avatar's defeat of my brother, I suggested that Aang and Zuko put on a joint display of master firebending instead. I think the Avatar was very much relieved at the idea.
The Kyoshi warriors astounded us all with a warlike dance and some very quick fan work. Afterward, Mai's maid of honor, who had participated in this remarkable dance, removed her facepaint and gave a solo exhibition of tremendous acrobatics. That one seemed very popular with the young men of the Earth Kingdom, heh.
What else? Piandao followed the Kyoshi warriors and Ty Lee with a demonstration of his sword prowess, assisted by Sokka. I could not tell whether Sokka was more afraid of embarrassment or mortal wounding, ha ha. There were also tall, splendid statues of Zuko and Mai that had been moved in front of the palace. Even King Bumi was impressed with the craftsmanship. There were fire dancers, floating lanterns that showered burning confetti high over our heads, and a few very funny shadow puppet plays. The Ember Island Players presented a short reenactment of Zuko's life. I think they treated him a little bit more accurately this time, although I was disappointed that they had cast a different actor for my part. The old one was much more fun, ha ha ha!
And the food! What food, like I have never tasted! I understood then why the servants had been so put out over my sampling of their cooking earlier - they hadn't given it their finishing touches yet! Aang offered me some of his vegetarian dishes, and they were exquisite! And the tea! Between Katara's masterful stirring of seven hundred teapots at once, and my own careful heating, the tea turned out perfectly! It was the highlight of everyone's evening, I think, ha ha.
Finally, Zuko, Aang, Katara, and Toph took to the stage and performed a dazzling dance of all four elements together. Toph seemed to have a little more trouble bending than usual, though. Perhaps it was because Teo was seated right at the front. Or perhaps it was because she was wearing a dress! I often heard her complaining about it, but I think she secretly liked it. And Aang's lemur also seemed to be wearing a dress. At least that's what I think it was. Katara was very proud of it, whatever it was.
Contrary to what you may hear, I was not drunk. At least not very much. But I find that a few drinks can get you just tipsy enough that people think you are drunk. This makes some tolerate you more than they usually would, ha ha! Oh, I had fun. I was able to tell all sorts of embarrassing stories about Zuko, and he was helpless to stop me! My favorite was the story of Zuko and the noodles. He hates that one, ha ha ha ha! I believe Mai suspected me, but she wasn't going to interrupt the fun! I think Bumi got a little "drunk" too, but it is hard to tell with him.
In the end, the bride and groom retired to the royal chambers, and soon afterward the guests began returning to the inns around the city. The palace grew nearly empty except for the servants. I saw some of Zuko's friends taking moonlight strolls, and I am sure I spotted the Avatar hanging from the pinnacle of the palace. I don't know what he drank.
Ah, what a day it was! A wedding to remember! Now Zuko and Mai are preparing for their honeymoon at the old house on Ember Island. As for me, I think I will enjoy the city for a few days more before returning to my teashop. I hear Smellerbee and Longshot are still taking excellent care of it. If only Katara would take a job as a permanent tea-stirrer...
They were married yesterday at ten in the morning. The Great Fire Sage performed their ceremony, of course. He is losing the last of his hair, now, though he is still as skinny as a wizened old stick. I am sure I caught him laughing at my belly that afternoon. But I needed somewhere to balance my third plate of cinder puffs! I don't think he even ate anything.
Poor fellow. I should suggest that Zuko get him a nurse to make sure he looks after himself, ha ha! I am sure he would appreciate my thoughtfulness, heh.
But yes, he performed the wedding ceremony. Zuko and Mai both looked wonderful. Zuko wears the robe of the Firelord well. Avatar Aang was beside him as his best man, and Mai had chosen her friend Ty Lee to be her maid of honor. The courtyard was filled to overflowing with friends from every nation. Literally overflowing: there were people sitting on top of all the walls!
Zuko had prepared a short speech including vows of loyalty and love for his bride, but he seemed to have forgotten it as soon as he saw her. The heartfelt vows that he spoke instead were far better than his rehearsed speech could have been. Even though he stuttered through every word, heh, and even if he was starting to look a little bit green by the end, I have never heard more passion or conviction, not even from him.
When it looked like he was really getting ready to faint, though, that was when Mai told him that it was "enough already," ha ha ha, because she had vows of her own. She did not turn green, though. Oh well. She expressed her love and faithfulness to him. She also expressed a rather lengthy list of Zuko's, uh, shortcomings, but she said that she loved him because of them and not inspite of them. It was really very touching.
When the Great Sage concluded the ceremony, Zuko and Mai were presented to the throng as husband and wife, Firelord and Firelady. Every small, blind earthbender in attendance shouted unrepeatable recommendations of the new couple's next activities. Everyone else just cheered. Tradition, I guess.
After that, Zuko and Mai stood for three hours while many formed a line to offer them kind congratulations. Meanwhile I went to make sure that the wedding supper tasted acceptible. The Avatar found me after only a couple plates, but he could offer no opinion on the smoked kasugo I gave him. He said something about vegetarianism. I understand that he is an airbender, but he bends fire too! How can someone appreciate fire without tasting the heat of a fine cut of meat? Mmmm...
Soon the head servants arrived, though, and they chased me from the kitchen, sending me off with nothing more than a handful of rescued sweet rolls.
Back in the main hall, the party had already begun. It was excellent. Aang performed several times for all to see. He got some of the guests very wet at one point, ha ha, but the waterbenders helped him dry everyone off. When the people asked to see a reenactment of the Avatar's defeat of my brother, I suggested that Aang and Zuko put on a joint display of master firebending instead. I think the Avatar was very much relieved at the idea.
The Kyoshi warriors astounded us all with a warlike dance and some very quick fan work. Afterward, Mai's maid of honor, who had participated in this remarkable dance, removed her facepaint and gave a solo exhibition of tremendous acrobatics. That one seemed very popular with the young men of the Earth Kingdom, heh.
What else? Piandao followed the Kyoshi warriors and Ty Lee with a demonstration of his sword prowess, assisted by Sokka. I could not tell whether Sokka was more afraid of embarrassment or mortal wounding, ha ha. There were also tall, splendid statues of Zuko and Mai that had been moved in front of the palace. Even King Bumi was impressed with the craftsmanship. There were fire dancers, floating lanterns that showered burning confetti high over our heads, and a few very funny shadow puppet plays. The Ember Island Players presented a short reenactment of Zuko's life. I think they treated him a little bit more accurately this time, although I was disappointed that they had cast a different actor for my part. The old one was much more fun, ha ha ha!
And the food! What food, like I have never tasted! I understood then why the servants had been so put out over my sampling of their cooking earlier - they hadn't given it their finishing touches yet! Aang offered me some of his vegetarian dishes, and they were exquisite! And the tea! Between Katara's masterful stirring of seven hundred teapots at once, and my own careful heating, the tea turned out perfectly! It was the highlight of everyone's evening, I think, ha ha.
Finally, Zuko, Aang, Katara, and Toph took to the stage and performed a dazzling dance of all four elements together. Toph seemed to have a little more trouble bending than usual, though. Perhaps it was because Teo was seated right at the front. Or perhaps it was because she was wearing a dress! I often heard her complaining about it, but I think she secretly liked it. And Aang's lemur also seemed to be wearing a dress. At least that's what I think it was. Katara was very proud of it, whatever it was.
Contrary to what you may hear, I was not drunk. At least not very much. But I find that a few drinks can get you just tipsy enough that people think you are drunk. This makes some tolerate you more than they usually would, ha ha! Oh, I had fun. I was able to tell all sorts of embarrassing stories about Zuko, and he was helpless to stop me! My favorite was the story of Zuko and the noodles. He hates that one, ha ha ha ha! I believe Mai suspected me, but she wasn't going to interrupt the fun! I think Bumi got a little "drunk" too, but it is hard to tell with him.
In the end, the bride and groom retired to the royal chambers, and soon afterward the guests began returning to the inns around the city. The palace grew nearly empty except for the servants. I saw some of Zuko's friends taking moonlight strolls, and I am sure I spotted the Avatar hanging from the pinnacle of the palace. I don't know what he drank.
Ah, what a day it was! A wedding to remember! Now Zuko and Mai are preparing for their honeymoon at the old house on Ember Island. As for me, I think I will enjoy the city for a few days more before returning to my teashop. I hear Smellerbee and Longshot are still taking excellent care of it. If only Katara would take a job as a permanent tea-stirrer...
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Ahhh...
Ahhh... That was quite a day! A day of firey valor in the battle of the lacy placemats! A day of conquest over dirty tealeaves and victory over broken plumbing! A day of frantic preparation for Zuko's wedding tomorrow.
I have never seen Mai burn so many things. And she isn't even a firebender!
But now, we can all rest. I hope Zuko gets some sleep tonight; he is going to need it, heh! It is good to rest, whether asleep or awake. Some, I know, consider rest to be a waste of time, but that is only what it looks like. It is as necessary as anything in life. Without it we lose our perspective, and then even our hardest work becomes a tangle that turns us away from our better selves.
True rest is not doing nothing. It is meditation, which must be mindful, and active. When you meditate, you must actively clear your mind of all thought. This is not easy. Our minds are very busy, heh! But you must push away every thought. As soon as you do, I am sure a flood of other thoughts will take their place! Push them away again. And again. And again. Don't worry, you will get them back. Let go of them. Let them all go.
This can take quite a while, especially when you are not used to this kind of resting. And you may feel like you are wasting your time. But a man lost in the wilderness needs to stop and check his map, even if that means he must stop moving for a moment! We all are lost in the fabulous wilderness of life, and we all must stop often and take our bearings, or else we may find ourselves rushing down pathways we would never have wanted to take. This is one of the best ways you can use your time.
When the worries of your life come and invade your meditation, that is normal. When you cannot clear your mind because you have so much to be concerned about, that is normal. Keep pushing it all away. And be gentle about it! If you try to force your thoughts away too harshly, they can come rebounding back and hit you in the head, ha ha!
Before you know it, you will find your mind calming. Its wild waves and storms will settle into tiny ripples. The mountains that tower over you will shrink to little bumps in your path. Now that you have pushed all your thoughts away, only the best will come back. You see, false worries are fragile things, but we protect them, holding them close to ourselves, as if that will protect us. As soon as they are pushed out of the safety of our minds, they fall away like husks in the wind. Only truth can survive independent of our minds.
As only the most sensible thoughts return to us, we find our perspective renewed. You may think you don't need your perspective renewed, but that is a sure sign that you do, ha ha! Because we all do, regularly. The universe is too big for us, life is too complex for us. We must re-check our course constantly as we navigate through our existence. As unneccessary fears fall away through meditation, we are at last able to spend our energies where they are truly needed.
I helped Teo meditate when he found me hiding from Mai today. I mean, when he found me taking a much-needed break from the confusion of the palace today! He did very well at it. He said it gave him new ideas for his wheeled chair! He also said that meditation was like a "reset button." Okay.
I have never seen Mai burn so many things. And she isn't even a firebender!
But now, we can all rest. I hope Zuko gets some sleep tonight; he is going to need it, heh! It is good to rest, whether asleep or awake. Some, I know, consider rest to be a waste of time, but that is only what it looks like. It is as necessary as anything in life. Without it we lose our perspective, and then even our hardest work becomes a tangle that turns us away from our better selves.
True rest is not doing nothing. It is meditation, which must be mindful, and active. When you meditate, you must actively clear your mind of all thought. This is not easy. Our minds are very busy, heh! But you must push away every thought. As soon as you do, I am sure a flood of other thoughts will take their place! Push them away again. And again. And again. Don't worry, you will get them back. Let go of them. Let them all go.
This can take quite a while, especially when you are not used to this kind of resting. And you may feel like you are wasting your time. But a man lost in the wilderness needs to stop and check his map, even if that means he must stop moving for a moment! We all are lost in the fabulous wilderness of life, and we all must stop often and take our bearings, or else we may find ourselves rushing down pathways we would never have wanted to take. This is one of the best ways you can use your time.
When the worries of your life come and invade your meditation, that is normal. When you cannot clear your mind because you have so much to be concerned about, that is normal. Keep pushing it all away. And be gentle about it! If you try to force your thoughts away too harshly, they can come rebounding back and hit you in the head, ha ha!
Before you know it, you will find your mind calming. Its wild waves and storms will settle into tiny ripples. The mountains that tower over you will shrink to little bumps in your path. Now that you have pushed all your thoughts away, only the best will come back. You see, false worries are fragile things, but we protect them, holding them close to ourselves, as if that will protect us. As soon as they are pushed out of the safety of our minds, they fall away like husks in the wind. Only truth can survive independent of our minds.
As only the most sensible thoughts return to us, we find our perspective renewed. You may think you don't need your perspective renewed, but that is a sure sign that you do, ha ha! Because we all do, regularly. The universe is too big for us, life is too complex for us. We must re-check our course constantly as we navigate through our existence. As unneccessary fears fall away through meditation, we are at last able to spend our energies where they are truly needed.
I helped Teo meditate when he found me hiding from Mai today. I mean, when he found me taking a much-needed break from the confusion of the palace today! He did very well at it. He said it gave him new ideas for his wheeled chair! He also said that meditation was like a "reset button." Okay.
Saturday, June 25, 2011
Red as Deep Earth, Blue as Fresh Water
And now, I am hungry! I have just returned from a long walk around the royal city, after all. The streets are filled with people from every nation, all mingling together right here in the shadow of our splendid palace! And all are here to honor the wedding of our dear Firelord! The world can change so quickly, sometimes. To see crowds of people from the Water Tribes and the Earth Kingdom laughing together with citizens of the Fire Nation, all without any fighting...it is enough to make an old man a bit soggy around the eyes, heh heh. I nearly forgot about lunch as I watched everyone enjoying one another's company. So peaceful.
Well, mostly peaceful, I suppose. I did come upon a pair of men who were arguing most angrily over which was the superior element, earth or water. I stopped to listen, and their conversation intrigued me. Oh, it was nothing I had not heard a thousand times before, but I wanted to help. Each man defended his own element with the most simplistic exaggerations, and derided the other's element with shameful generalizations. I am sure they would have known better than to use these childish tactics had they been speaking of another topic, but politics can produce pettiness, heh heh.
But I was intrigued because, beneath the generalizations, both men sounded so correct! When the earthbender (I think his name was Baoshou) said that earth is unstoppable, I nodded to myself. He was quite right: earthbending derives its power from, well, the earth, ha ha, and that gives it a potentially limitless supply of endurance! And when he added that water cannot even grow life without needing earth, I nodded again. That was true, at least in most cases.
Yet the waterbender...whose name escapes me now...was it Zhubu? Or Ziyou? Ah, ha ha, anyway, he also said many true things. He spoke of the adaptability of water, praising its flexibility, and he said that waterbenders were the most innovative of all benders. I thought that that was perhaps stretching his point too far, but I had to agree that waterbending does stimulate creativity. Even its mere movements make me feel more creative, though I cannot move so much as a drop with them, heh. And when he accused the earthbender of being rigid, I had to suppress a laugh! Earthbenders are not always rigid - ha ha, Bumi is certainly not! - and yet, the very nature of earthbending can harden the mind and heart.
They went back and forth, and I was fascinated at how many different aspects of earth and water they described! They ignored the complexities of everything they spoke about, but it was thought-provoking anyway. At last, when both seemed to be catching their breath, I stepped closer and invited them to see the truth in each other's words.
It did not go well. Though I explained that it was possible for them both to be partially correct, and though I began describing the necessity for true listening in the place of debate...ah, I am afraid I did little good. Each man repeated the same arguments. Each listed all the reasons why the other was wrong. In the end, they left, each certain of his own correctness. It made me sad, but I stepped back and let their burdens flow through me and then out of me - another trick I have learned from waterbenders!
My heart was still heavy but my shoulders were light again. And now that I am back and eating, I find myself pondering once more the strengths and weaknesses of firebending. I'm glad that conversation got me started thinking; at least someone derived some benefit from it, ha ha!
Well, mostly peaceful, I suppose. I did come upon a pair of men who were arguing most angrily over which was the superior element, earth or water. I stopped to listen, and their conversation intrigued me. Oh, it was nothing I had not heard a thousand times before, but I wanted to help. Each man defended his own element with the most simplistic exaggerations, and derided the other's element with shameful generalizations. I am sure they would have known better than to use these childish tactics had they been speaking of another topic, but politics can produce pettiness, heh heh.
But I was intrigued because, beneath the generalizations, both men sounded so correct! When the earthbender (I think his name was Baoshou) said that earth is unstoppable, I nodded to myself. He was quite right: earthbending derives its power from, well, the earth, ha ha, and that gives it a potentially limitless supply of endurance! And when he added that water cannot even grow life without needing earth, I nodded again. That was true, at least in most cases.
Yet the waterbender...whose name escapes me now...was it Zhubu? Or Ziyou? Ah, ha ha, anyway, he also said many true things. He spoke of the adaptability of water, praising its flexibility, and he said that waterbenders were the most innovative of all benders. I thought that that was perhaps stretching his point too far, but I had to agree that waterbending does stimulate creativity. Even its mere movements make me feel more creative, though I cannot move so much as a drop with them, heh. And when he accused the earthbender of being rigid, I had to suppress a laugh! Earthbenders are not always rigid - ha ha, Bumi is certainly not! - and yet, the very nature of earthbending can harden the mind and heart.
They went back and forth, and I was fascinated at how many different aspects of earth and water they described! They ignored the complexities of everything they spoke about, but it was thought-provoking anyway. At last, when both seemed to be catching their breath, I stepped closer and invited them to see the truth in each other's words.
It did not go well. Though I explained that it was possible for them both to be partially correct, and though I began describing the necessity for true listening in the place of debate...ah, I am afraid I did little good. Each man repeated the same arguments. Each listed all the reasons why the other was wrong. In the end, they left, each certain of his own correctness. It made me sad, but I stepped back and let their burdens flow through me and then out of me - another trick I have learned from waterbenders!
My heart was still heavy but my shoulders were light again. And now that I am back and eating, I find myself pondering once more the strengths and weaknesses of firebending. I'm glad that conversation got me started thinking; at least someone derived some benefit from it, ha ha!
"Blogging?" Ah, interesting...
Hello there! I make my first entry in this marvelous glowing journal from the Fire Nation Palace, but I will return to my teashop before long.
And speaking of tea, there seems to be something in the water here at my old home that adds a distinct flavor to the leaves I packed from Ba Sing Se. I must find out what the difference is.
Oh, but yes! In two days the whole Fire Nation will celebrate my nephew Firelord Zuko's wedding to his lovely bride Mai! It has been a very rapid engagement, but at least they got to choose one another, ha ha. I am pleased that Zuko need not have suffered through the pressures of a politically arranged wedding. Of course, it worked out well enough for me, ha ha ha! Ahhh...
I wonder if any of her plants have survived?
And speaking of tea, there seems to be something in the water here at my old home that adds a distinct flavor to the leaves I packed from Ba Sing Se. I must find out what the difference is.
Oh, but yes! In two days the whole Fire Nation will celebrate my nephew Firelord Zuko's wedding to his lovely bride Mai! It has been a very rapid engagement, but at least they got to choose one another, ha ha. I am pleased that Zuko need not have suffered through the pressures of a politically arranged wedding. Of course, it worked out well enough for me, ha ha ha! Ahhh...
I wonder if any of her plants have survived?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)