Cultivation

March 29, 2011 · Posted in Self Improvement · 2 Comments

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Cultivate harmony within yourself, and harmony becomes real
Cultivate harmony within your family, and harmony becomes fertile
Cultivate harmony within your community, and harmony becomes abundant
Cultivate harmony within your culture, and harmony becomes enduring
Cultivate harmony within the world, and harmony becomes ubiquitous.

-Daodejing, from Chapter 54,
translation by Peter Merel

Think of life as a garden. Every action we take is a seed. Well grounded actions are firmly planted seeds. These are not easily uprooted. What does this mean? For the things in your life that matter most, be consistent and be thoughtful. Rash actions, harsh words and frivolous care can disrupt your garden.

Each of us tends our own garden. Yet our garden is part of our family’s garden, which is in turn part of our community’s garden. The community’s garden is part of our culture’s garden which is part of the global garden. What you plant influences those around you. It can change what others plant in their garden. People are social. We look at the garden’s around us. What do you see when you look around yourself? Do you see beautiful gardens or do you soil going to waste because nothing takes root?

Help those around you by tending your garden well. It will be an example for others. Plant fun flowers that make you smile. Plant good vegetables that fill your belly. Cultivation is how we live our lives. How we grow our gardens is our contribution to the world.

Tags: community, family, garden, life, seeds