May 3rd

Center


From a bud, only a promise.
Then a gentle opening :
Rich blooming, bursting fragrance,
The fulfillment of the center.

True beauty comes from within. Take a flower as an example. In the beginning it is only a bud. It does not yet show its loveliness to the world, it does not attract bees or butterflies, and it cannot yet become fruit. Only when it opens is beauty revealed in its center. There is the focus of its exquisiteness, there is the source of its aroma, there is its sweet nectar. In the same way, our own unique beauty comes from within.Our glory has nothing to do with our appearance or our occupation. Our special qualities come from an inner source. We must take care to open and bloom naturally and leisurely and keep to the center. It is from there that all mystery and power comes, and it is good to let it unfold in its own time.
Just as a flower goes through stages -- bud, open, bloom, pollinate, wither, fruit, fall -- each of us will go through the obvious stages of birth to death. We aren't of a single character throughout our lives. We change and grow. Our identities unfold and bloom. Unless we attain the center and keep to our progressions, we cannot ever reach true independence in our lives.

Personal Interpretation


 Only when the bud of a flower opens itself to the world does it begin to blossom. It reaches instinctively for the light, and the flow that is Tao nourishes it through all of its growing pangs. It is the same with us. We must open ourselves to enlightment if we want to grow. We must recognize what lies within us, for the center of the self is the source of life and inspiration. Life can be tumultuous and if we want to maintain ourselves through the many changes that will surely shake us, we must hold to the center, must seek balance, must realign ourselves constantly. First and foremost, we must discover who we are and maintain that, no matter what. Anyone who asks us to sacrifice our sense of self does not have our best interests in mind. It  may sometimes be painful to be so knowledgable about ourselves. In fact, there may be things about ourselves we don't wish to acknowledge, but must must acknowledge them if we are to prosper.