Yen

 Yen! The very word reminds us of Japan. 'Yen' is the currency of Japan. To my mind, however, the other meanings of 'yen' represent Japan truly. 'Yen' means strong desire, propensity, urge, craving for something. 

Japan, in my opinion, has a yen for resilience, a quality I respect and admire truly. Look at Japan. The very first three days of the New Year brought colossal calamity after  terrible disaster for Japan and the Japanese. First the earthquake, next the mini-tsunami, followed by a sortie plane hitting a jumbo with almost four hundred passengers, who escaped unharmed unscathed despite the burning inferno.

Did you look at the houses? Very few collapsed like a pack of cards. People were calm. As if it is a daily normal activity! Simply great resilience! How do the Japanese, apparently a fast aging population,  manage overcoming catastrophes calmly?

I suppose it is their yen for Zen. That is the philosophical base.  In real lived lives, moreover, right from childhood, they are trained for  earthquake readiness. Most households have a special earthquake kit in place. The buildings have to be built as per the earthquake resistant mode and parameters. Stringent laws are strictly followed, without any corrupt hanky-panky. 

No wonder, despite such a huge  catastrophe, the yen as a currency never loses its creditworthiness. The Japanese yen for Zen may have helped them overcome Hiroshima-Nagasaki. Yet the tragic event apparently added to their innate resilience as well. No wonder, this country, perched up the dreaded Ring of Fire, repeatedly rises like the phoenix from totally burnt-out ashes!

Pratima@ Let us learn from Japan this Phoenix yen every which way!