The Zen of the Harlequin
B1620
Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming
The Harlequin Duck is distinctive not only because of its striking markings, but also because it is at home in roaring, powerful, turbulent waters. This resting Harlequin, with river rapids crashing down all around it, seems to embody the wisdom of Zen and other contemplative traditions: that peace is to be found within us, not in the external circumstances of our lives, and that we can be at peace right where we are, right now, no matter where we are. This does not mean accepting the unacceptable. It means accepting what we cannot change and changing what we can. It also hints at a satisfying way to live life. When life is crashing all around, contemplate the serenity of the Harlequin Duck.
