Conditions

When you look at the sun during your walking meditation, the mindfulness of the body helps you to see that the sun is in you; without the sun there is no life at all and suddenly you get in touch with the sun in a different way. – Thich Nhat Hanh

I met a young monk from a different Buddhist tradition. He was annoyed with the Plum Village bell inviting us to pause every fifteen minutes and connect with the present moment. His mind was overwhelmed with worries how to bring Buddhism to his home country.

Perhaps if he paused to notice flowers around him he would recharge his Inner Buddha and the insight would open up to him like a lily in the morning sun.

When conditions are right the flower opens. Sun nurtures and encourages it to share its succulent essence with bees.

When conditions are right the flower closes. Moon guides it to rest and protects its essence so it is not depleted.

And that is the order of events in the world.