Catherine ||| Cambodia , Buddhist Context
He tells me , “ The water and the land are like the lifeblood of our country . From the water and the land come everything we need for life – rice , fruit , animals , shade for rest , materials for building and making . The Neak Da are the Guardians and Owners , the Spirits of our water and our land . If we honour the Neak Da , we see the beauty and the goodness of the fields , the rivers , the trees , the animals and of people , and we receive the fruits of fertile land , long life , peace and prosperity . If we do not honour and respect the Neak Da it is like we do not take care of our water and land and we lose our lifeblood ; our water and land have illness , we have illness , and our peace and prosperity are taken from our families .”
As my friend ’ s father shares , I sit at the edge of a rice field where harvesting is beginning . Looking across the hues of green and gold I indeed see the beauty and the goodness of this land . I ponder the presence of the Neak Da – Guardians , Owners , Spirits of the water and land . As I do so , I ponder another story . In the beginning God created , His Spirit was present , relationship between people and people ’ s connection to creation brings forth care and ongoing fruitfulness … And it was all very good .
The blending together of Hinduism , Buddhism and animism throughout Cambodia ’ s history , and the intricate interweaving of spirituality into the rhythms and relationships of daily life create beautifully rich aspects of culture that connect with the story of creation .
Yet this tapestry can also make the creation story difficult to accept . The Neak Da are the Guardians of a particular place , for example , of a particular village . In this context , therefore , the creation story as we know it can seem to be a story from outside .
So how do we share this story ? A Khmer Proverb provides insight , instructing , “ Enter the river by its bends , enter a district by its country ”. We move into the flow of our neighbourhood , learning , growing and becoming a part of the intricate interweaving of relationships and rhythms of daily life and spirituality . We move into the stories of our communities , being present and attentive , allowing our stories to be drawn into the interweaving . And then , as we in deepening ways become a part of this rich fabric , in our living , our words and our actions , we share the story of the One Guardian , the Master God of sky and land who gives life and breath to everything and satisfies every need ( Acts 17:24 – 25 ).
Creation
resonate · issue 36 · page 12