I have a truly beautiful garden. It’s surrounded by trees on all sides, making it feel cozy and secure, and it blooms with beautiful flowers throughout the seasons. Walking on the grass under the moonlight makes me feel like I’m standing in the vast universe, experiencing freedom.
However, there was one neglected corner in this space that didn’t sit well with me. Eventually, I couldn’t stand it any longer and spent several days tearing out the ivy that covered the ground in that area. After a year, one day, a Japanese Holly that had been growing within the ivy vines started to wither and eventually died. It was then that my teacher’s words came to mind: “The things we perceive as problems may not actually be problems at all.”
The untidy part of my garden that I thought was a problem was, in fact, not a problem to begin with. The Japanese Holly and the ivy were mutually thriving together. If I had used the time I wasted on pulling out the ivy to nourish the trees and flowers instead, it would have created peace for both the plants and me.
My garden has been a grateful friend that has given me valuable lessons. The same goes for relationships with loved ones and with myself. Instead of trying to change them to go in the direction that I want, the first step is to listen to what they truly need and to accept them as they are. In fact, just their presence, whether it be of loved ones or my own, is already a great source of love. How can I not be grateful?
This is a wonderful lesson you have learned from gardening.