Tea #1: Karma, Bonesetting and Mount Everest

Hello,

My essays turned out to be a little longer than I thought they would be when I started this newsletter. I understand that all that long text can be discouraging for some people, so I am starting this weekly update. The update highlights the key takeaway from the last essay and also a few things that have captured my interest.

My last letter to you was about the different ways to rectify injustice. We will inevitably be hurt by the people we share this world with. How we choose to deal with this may be determined by our religious inclinations, our social justice systems or our personal philosophies.

I conclude the letter by pointing out that rather than desiring to get even whether passively through karma or actively by retribution, it is better to accept these incidents as they are. Shape ourselves around them very much like water, and continue undeterred towards our goals.

What I’m reading

There is a depth of emotion to Amy Tan’s writing that I find enrapturing. Every line seems to suck me deeper into the relationships between the characters. Ruth and her mother Lu-Ling are strangers, not only as immigrants but to each other as well. The tension between them is magnified by their circumstances. At its heart, however, the tragedy of their relationship is the tragedy of single-parent and only-child relationships. The mutual isolation and dependence that is characteristic of such an arrangement can be combustive if not handled well. Amy Tan also delves into the experience of memory and how we all experience the same events, yet have different truths relative to this shared experience.

What I’m listening to

Mount Everest - Labrinth

AG Baby - Adekunle Gold

I Love You - Woodkid

ilomilo - Billie Eilish

Deep End - Foushee

I hope you have a great weekend. Or at least not a bad one.

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