On a bright warm spring day, a mom and her seven-year-old daughter went out for a walk around a playground at the park. The moment the young daughter saw a beautiful sunflower, she tried to pick the flower.
Her mom stopped her from picking it and quietly told her, “Sweetie, why are you picking the flower?” “Mom, because the flower is so beautiful. If I bring it home, it would be so nice,” said the daughter. “Yes, if you see the flower at home, you would be so happy because the flower is pretty, wouldn’t you? But how would the flower be the moment you pick it?” asked mom. “It would die probably,”replied the daughter.
The Mom said, “Yes, you are right. The flower is the most beautiful when it is there on that flower bed, just as it is. People try to own something for themselves if they see something pretty or good. However, as the flower dies the moment you try to own it, the cleverest way is to preserve it and let it be as it is rather than trying to own it, no matter how good it is. However, people are greedy so they try to own everything of the world, instead of letting it be as it is. Meanwhile, they have sickened their mind.”
The daughter said, “Mom, I don’t want to sicken my mind. I can come back later to see this flower again. I won’t pick the flower again.”
From teacher Woo Myung’spoetry, Nature’s Flow
Abandon
It is great earnest that I say to you,
abandon your attachments;
abandon your discernments;
abandon what you know;
abandon your pride;
abandon anything and everything in your subconscious that moves you;
completely remove the fundamental roots
of all your thoughts.
You will not die if you abandon them.
You will not lose if you abandon them.
You will gain something greater.
If you do not abandon them
you will never reach enlightenment,
nor find your self that is at peace.
You will be Buddha if you reach enlightenment,
so why is it that you do not abandon them?
You lived creating enough kleshas in your mind,
those futile delusions.
What good have they done you?
Why are you unable to let go of them
when they provide no aid or benefit?
Let them go immediately.
Do you intend to continue fighting your kleshas?
Be simple and innocent.
Be like a child.
Be a person that knows nothing.
Abandon your curiosity.
Do not be cunning.
Abandon wealth and prosperity.
Such things are what sicken you;
they are your worst enemies.
There are steps that must be taken for all things.
Thus if you wish to reach enlightenment,
you must take action
by abandoning the things you have,
for unless you do, you will never reach it.
If you still do not wish to let go of them,
let us consider
the countless people who have departed before you:
Are the heroes of the times or the eternal saints still alive now?
Is there anything that is indeed eternal?
They are all futile dreams of the past.
So truly let go of all that is yours –
those pointless things –
right now.
Once you do, you will find your eternal self,
which is a priceless treasure you must indeed find
while you are alive as a human being.
This is something that cannot be done
unless you are a human being,
and opportunities do not come often.
If you do not let go now
you will lose this chance for all eternity.
Time will not wait for you:
Who will you blame when you are without enlightenment?
