Fly Me to the Moon

The Mid-Autumn Festival is one of my favourite times of the year, not so much because of the yummy mooncakes but the air of festivity and joy that seems to surround the temple.  People seem to be more good natured and amiable and though the weather had not been favourable, it did not spoil our mood.

We were seated at a big round table which we had placed in the garden on the evening of  the 15th (i.e. 15th day of the 8th month of the Chinese lunar calendar), this being the day of the festival.  Unfortunately thick hazy clouds covered the sky and we were not able to see the moon, still we carried on undaunted.   There was a plate of mooncakes on the table and Head Nun personally served chrysanthemum tea to all of us.  There was much laughter and gaiety as we talked and munched away.  Some of the younger nuns asked Head Nun a number of questions about the legends of the festival and the one I liked best was about the White Rabbit.  What a show of selflessness, courage and sacrifice!  

This is how the story goes....The Jade Emperor disguised himself as a poor, starving beggar and begged for food from the monkey, otter, jackal and rabbit.  While the other animals were able to offer something, the rabbit could only gather grass.  Knowing well that grass can't be offered as food to humans, it decided to offer its own body, sacrificing itself in the fire that the man had started.  But amazingly, it wasn't burnt.  The man then revealed himself as the Jade Emperor and touched by the rabbit's self-sacrifice, he sent it to the moon as the immortal Jade Rabbit.

 "So next time you look up at the moon," concluded Head Nun.  "Remember the Jade Rabbit who had nothing to give except himself - for others."

It is said that when you look up at the moon, you can see the outline of the Rabbit pounding with a pestle.   So far I have not been able to see it, what about you?