Creation/Destruction

(from Chiang Ti Stories by Richard Seltzre)

Night followed day, time and again. Rocks tossed high in the sky fell low in the valley. Chiang Ti watched and pondered long, then rose and returned to the village in the valley, followed by Lotus, Little Blossom and dozens of children who loved to hear his stories.

"Whatever rises must fall," he told the village folk. "Whatever lives must die. Every creation contains the seeds of its destruction. But don't despair that so it is and must be. Rather, accept and rejoice in the rhythm of the world.

"See a child at play with his blocks, carefully, cheerfully building. See the delight of creation. Then see the same child, with a sweep of his hand, topple the tower, laugh, and build again.

"To create, one must destroy; and to destroy, one must create. The whole pattern has its pleasure -- both rise and fall. Accept it cheerfully, like a child, and continually rejoice."

But a carpenter, accustomed only to building, spoke up, "Chiang Ti, your very idea is a creation. So if every creation contains the seeds of its destruction, then your idea too must be destroyed."

Chiang Ti smiled, turned, and took the path back to the mountains. Slowly he climbed, pausing now and then to toss pebbles.