Que Será, Será

A nearby elementary school has decorated its facade with wonderful hand-painted tiles, some of which have inspirational phrases (probably chosen by responsible adults).

The tile above reads, "Que será, será," a Spanish expression meaning "what will be, will be."

Some of us old-timers will recognize it as the title of a song popularized by Doris Day in the mid-1950s.  Here's the first verse and chorus of the song:

When I was just a little girl
I asked my mother, what will I be
Will I be pretty, will I be rich
Here's what she said to me.
Que Sera, Sera,
Whatever will be, will be
The future's not ours, to see
Que Sera, Sera
What will be, will be.

I remember singing this song when I was a little boy, but somehow never imprinted on the "what will be, will be" part. (Of course, I didn't end up pretty or rich, either.)

Despite this old association, I felt unsettled when I first saw this tile. It seems fundamentally false. In the deepest possible way, we shape our destiny through our intentions and actions. It takes only a few moments of reflection to see this natural process at play.

Of course, if we wish to avoid the work of enlightenment, then it might be reassuring to throw up our hands and say, "Que será, será." Like a cosmic, "Whatever."

Comments

[Suzanne]

Ahhh...don't beat yourself (whomever you are) up for not doing "the work of enlightenment" perfectly! Laziness doesn't come into it. The less "you" do, the more is done.

[The Barking Unicorn, Denver, CO]

Swimming upstream is slow and difficult. Floating along with the flow is swift and effortless.

Do you wish to go back or forward; to the point where separate raindrops fell or to the Oneness of Ocean?

My thoughts on Shen-yen's advice to "be soft in your practice..."

http://barkingunicorn.wordpress.com/2009/08/20/follow-the-silvery-stream/

[El Loco]

You really can't separate "what will be will be" from "the future's not ours to see." I never took it as "whatever." Rather, I understood it as, "I can't tell you. You'll have to wait and see." Which is a different way of saying "don't worry about tomorrow; enjoy the present moment."

[Justin Choo]

Hi Barry,

With the storehouse of kammic actions we brought with us, I think it is fairly accurate that "whatever will be will be."

We may have control over our present actions, but we have to carry a lot of baggages from the past.

[Genju]

Ah... me and Doris, we say "What.evah."

My father and I used to sing this every night. Thanks for memories, Barry. However it should be taken, it's a great sentiment play with depending on which end of the spectrum from equanimity to helpessness I'm in.

[Barry Briggs]

Thank you, everyone, for your generous responses.

Sometimes this blog seems like a corral for an ox. The ground is muddy from the constant trampling, it's drizzling outside (as it is, just now), and the ox would rather be just about anywhere else. In a nice cosy bed.

That's sorta what was going on with this post, I suspect. I just didn't want to write it. And the obvious (to you, not to me) disjunctions between intent, truth, and words probably reflects that.

Sigh. That miserable old ox...

[Steve]

Just whistle while you work
And cheerfully together we can tidy up the place
So hum a merry tune
It won't take long when there's a song to help you set the pace

And as you sweep the room
Imagine that the broom is someone that you love
And soon you'll find you're dancing to the tune

When hearts are high the time will fly so whistle while you work

Just whistle while you work
Put on that grin and start right in to whistle loud and long
Just hum a merry tune
Just do your best and take a rest and sing yourself a song

When there's too much to do
Don't let it bother you, forget your troubles,
Try to be just like a cheerful chick-a-dee

And whistle while you work
Come on get smart, tune up and start
To whistle while you work

[Barry Briggs]

Steve, I've been laughing all day! Thank you very much.

Barry

[Joseph]

One of my favorite records is Carlos Montoya with some New York studio jazz musicians. On the A side, they are performing 50's pop songs as Flamenco instrumentals. Que Sera is on e of the songs they do!