Transformations

Any life form in any realm - minerals,vegetable,animal or human - can be said to undergo "enlightenment".

Some rocks undergo a change in their molecular structure, turn into crystals, & so become transparent to the light. Some carbons, under inconceivable heat & pressure, turn into diamonds & some heavy minerals into other, precious stones.

Most crawling reptilians, the most earth bound of all creatures have remained unchanged for millions of years. Some, however, grew feathers & wings & turned into birds, thus defying the force of gravity that had held them for so long. They didn't became better at crawling or walking, but transcended crawling & walking entirely.

Flowers ,the Human Consciousness and ZEN

Flowers play an important & essential part in the evolution of consciousness of humans. Humans are increasingly drawn to flowers & fascinated by them. With the development of consciousness, flowers provided inspiration to countless humans who later became artists, poets & mystics.

The first recognition of beauty was one of the most significant events in the evolution of human consciousness. The feelings of joy & love are intrinsically connected to that recognition.

Their scent is delicate & pleasing to humans, & they also bring a fragrance which looks like coming from the realm of spirit.

In a wider sense, we can look upon flowers as the enlightenment of plants.

The Buddha is said to have given a "silent sermon" once during which he held up a flower & gazed at it. After a while, one of those present, a monk called Mahakashyapa, began to smile. He is said to have been the only one who had understood the sermon. According to legend, that smile (that is to say, realization) was handed down by 28 successive masters & much later became the origin of Zen.

Seeing beauty in a flower could awaken humans, however briefly, to the beauty that is an essential part of their own innermost being,their true nature.

Like all life forms, flowers have held special significance for the human spirit, we can say that they are temporary manifestations of the underlying one life, one consciousness.

So when you are alert & contemplate a flower, without naming it mentally, it becomes a window for us into the formless. There is an inner opening, however slight, into the realm of spirit. This is why this "enlightened" life form has played such an important part in the evolution of consciousness.

For example Lotus flower is a central symbol of Buddhism & Hinduism.

Change -- A Universal Law

A young monk went complaining to the Zen master: the regimen is harsh, joints cramp during meditation, the body aches, the mind drifts..."My son, don't worry, that will change," the master comforted the youth.

Later, he came back. "Thank you very much, master. Now I know the meaning of bliss. I know what I am, what is life's meaning. I feel eternal pleasure."

"My son, don't worry, that will change."