This treasure was discovered in a bamboo thicket --
I washed the bowl in a spring and then mended it.
After morning meditation, I take my gruel in it;
At night, it serves me soup or rice.
Cracked, worn, weather-beaten, and misshapen
But still of noble stock!
~Ryokan
Autumn is paradoxically a time of both harvest and decay. The bounty of summer comes to a close, things start to turn brown and die... and somehow it is so beautiful. This little zen poem by Ryokan reminds me to find the beauty in everything, even (especially?) those things others may discard or scoff at. And not just in material things, but in people, in actions, in moments... with a little care and mending aren't we all of noble stock?
1 comment:
I love this post. Fall is one of my favourite seasons. I love the colours, the crisp air, and how the pace of life seems to slow down.
Thank you for the beautiful photos and the reflective words.
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