homage to the flower

















"Now the key story for me about Buddhism concerns the sermon where the Buddha was seated, and there was a group around him and he just held up a flower. Just a flower. One in the group got what the Buddha was on about. For him, the flower itself was enough to spark enlightenment. The rest of the crowd were still in the dark, so to speak, so the Buddha delivered a sermon—the Flower Wreath SĹ«tra—to explain what he meant, which was this: there is nothing to say about life. It has no meaning. You make meaning. If you want a meaning in your life, find a meaning and bring it into your life, but life won't give you a meaning. Meaning is a concept. It is a notion of an end toward which you are going. The point of Buddhism is This Is It."

Joseph Campbell, Myths of Light, p. 135 (I came across this quote on Facebook this morning)


after having read the above and being overcome by a short outburst of Joy and Yay to it All, I decided to go out into our garden and look at the flowers; to be honest there are more out there than I had been aware of....just goes to show how little I actually see when I'm looking without focus....I do believe there's a lesson in there 

Comments

Marti said…
Yes, to see with depth brings you to the wonder and beauty that exists out the door each day. This has been my daily beginning; have always taken the first moments of the break of day, to go out, every day and see what presents. This meditative practice was especially important to me these past 12 years when we moved to many places because the landscape grounded me as well as opened me to accept what came/comes.

For all of the varied beauty of your flowers Saskia, it is the dandelion puff that calls to me; strong stem, fragile, wispy plant threads, ready to fly at the hint of a breeze, much like standing up to face what comes, you have to sometimes let go while knowing that you still remain strong in yourself.
I like this, too. I'm sure artists and poets do that, create meaning from what presents itself. It's our job. I read some Yogi Berra quotes this week. He said, You can observe a lot just by looking
Nancy said…
So glad to see this here today...the quote the beauty of your flowers...
You could extend FB Flower Saturday to Sunday! Did you see my flowers yesterday? I love that you tied this all together, then went out to spend time with the flowers. Beautifully thought-filled!
Saskia said…
Marti, I cannot imagine moving as much as you have done! grounding self by looking out and being there is so important; these mornings, especially the ones I go to the office (enclosed spaces) I'll go out into the garden with Django and just stand still and breathe the morning air: wake up, it says to me

hi Susan, love your quote, haha, how often I 'm not really looking.......

yes Nancy, I did, and I know your yellow rose well by now! going out, breathing in the garden, the landscape has become more and more essential to me, keeping my healthy and grounded
Suzanna said…
Saskia, this posting, photos and quotation are so perfect for me today...thank you!
Liz A said…
I love your creative response to the words and images ... and how even the humble dandelion is a wonder
Saskia said…
hello Suzanna and Liz, praise to the mighty dandelion! wonderful how flowers can be so uplifting

tungsten

tungsten

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