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When we let it grow
a weed might just surprise us
with uncut beauty.
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(c) 2014, 2017 Betty Hayes Albright
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(a re-post)
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I love the surface simplicity and internal depth of haiku. This one is lovely. I read it out loud as I believe all haiku should be enjoyed.
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Thank you, Sharon! I agree with your description of haiku. 🙂
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Dogen said, “Although everything has Buddha nature, we love flowers, and we do not care for weeds.” This is true of human nature. But that we are attached to some beauty is itself Buddha’s activity. That we do not care for weeds is also Buddha’s activity. We should know that. If you know that, it is all right to attach to something. If it is Buddha’s attachment, that is non-attachment. So in love there should be hate, or non-attachment. And in hate there should be love, or acceptance. Love and hate are one thing. We should not attach to love alone. We should accept hate. We should accept weeds, despite how we feel about them. If you do not care for them, do not love them; if you love them then love them.
Usually you criticize yourself for being unfair to your surroundings; you criticize your unaccepting attitude. But there is a very subtle difference between the usual way of accepting and our way of accepting things, although they may seem exactly the same. We have been taught that there is no gap between nighttime and daytime, no gap between you and I. This means oneness. But we do not emphasize even oneness. If it is one, there is no need to emphasize one.
Dogen said: “To learn something is to know yourself; to study Buddhism is to study yourself.” To learn something is not to acquire something which you did not know before. You know something before you learn it. There is no gap between the “I” before you know something, and the “I” after you know something. There is no gap between the ignorant and the wise. A foolish person is a wise person; a wise person is a foolish person. But usually we think, “He is foolish and I am wise,” or “I was foolish, but now I am wise.” How can we be wise if we are foolish? But the understanding transmitted from Buddha to us is that there is no difference whatsoever between the foolish man and the wise man. It is so. But if I say this people may think that I am emphasizing oneness. That is not so. We do not emphasize anything. All we want to do is to know things just as they are. If we know things, as they are, there is nothing to point at; there is no way to grasp anything; there is no thing to grasp. We cannot put emphasis on any point. Nevertheless, as Dogen said, “A flower falls, even though we love it; and a weed grows, even though we do not love it.” Even though it is so, this is our life.
In this way our life should be understood. Then there is no problem. Because we put emphasis on some particular point, we always have trouble. We should accept things just as they are. This is how we understand everything, and how we live in this world. This kind of experience is something beyond our thinking. In the thinking realm there is a difference between oneness and variety; but in actual experience, variety and unity are the same. Because you create some idea of unity or variety, you are caught by the idea. And you have to continue the endless thinking, although actually there is no need to think.
Emotionally we have many problems; they are something created; they are problems pointed out by our self-centered ideas or views. Because we point out something, there are problems. But actually it is not possible to point out anything in particular. Happiness is sorrow; sorrow is happiness. Even though the ways we feel are different, they are not really different; in essence they are the same. This is the true understanding; transmitted from Buddha to us.
~Shunryu Suzuki
Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind
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Thanks for your interesting comment, Bob. I enjoyed the read.
In this poem I was being a little satirical using the word “weed”. A weed is in the eye of its beholder. I love them all, admire their beauty and hardiness. Not that I don’t “weed” the garden to save the tomatoes though. 😉
Thank you again for taking the time to share this article.
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Trump.
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And I love your poem. Although “live* your poem is fine too; live is love and love is live.
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Ack!
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Thank you Ben! For all comments. 😄
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Ack!
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Live your poem, Betty. My two earlier “Trump”s are one each but no way to show that in WP.
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Trump.
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The “acks!” are meant to post after the trumps but these don’t appear in order. I see what you mean, Ben.
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Now may I weed out the trumps? 😆
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Like all good koans, your question: “Now may I weed out the trumps?” cuts to the core of one’s understanding of Zen. You may need to have a word with Dogen and Suzuki Roshi.
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Only one? 🕉️
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There are more?
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Seven.
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Please tell me more.
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It was awhile back we were discussing the 8 Buddhist Principles and I mentioned the 7 ideal forms of Plato which correspond to the teachings of the ancient masters (and at least one modern day Teacher). The 8th “ideal” is the 1st of the next octave which begins on a higher plane beyond the physical.
ANYway, I’m digressing somewhat (again) following my own path which has no label and veers away somewhat from Buddhism – though there are similarities. (I bet you wish you hadn’t asked for more. 😉 )
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“(I bet you wish you hadn’t asked for more.”
Far from it, Betty. I feel honoured that you took time to explain. Like you I tend to follow my own path rather then being overly constricted by what I read/hear elsewhere, as you have probably noticed. 🙂 I do recall you mentioning Plato’s “7” back down the line. Now I see more deeply into your response.
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I was pretty sure you would – thank you for that. 😄 🌻
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Most weeds are herbs.
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That’s why I don’t like the word “weed”. They’re just super hardy plants, often with exquisite flowers.
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I have a few wildflowers…sometimes called weeds…that have exceptional beauty….much truth in your words.
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Thank you, Charlie – I love the wildflowers (so-called weeds) too. 🙂
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Feels happy to read your post!
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Thank you, I’m glad! 🙂
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Weeds are just an artificial concept…all plants have beauty. (K)
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I totally agree! 🌾☘️🍀🌱🥀
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I once read a whole chapter from a book on horticulture on why weeds are called weeds; at the end of it, I was none the wiser.
What is wrong with daisies on a lawn? It’s the lawn that’s out of place! your lovely haiku puts this message so succinctly.
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Thank you, I couldn’t agree more. I love those little daisies on a lawn, and also the buttercups, clover, moss, and so many other little plants. What I don’t like is a sterile lawn – just grass. Give me natural and wild meadows any day. 🙂
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So well put Betty! Simple and with depth….love it!
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Thanks very much for your kind words, Rob! 🙂
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So beautiful…so true. Sigh ♡
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Thank you, Audrey – I’ve missed you!! Happy to see you back. 😄
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It always feels good to come back after moments of silence. My brain was working too hard, it seems. I missed you, too. ♡
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The best haiku convey more than the obvious. Suffice to say, I love haiku – and I’m pro-weed!
My very best,
Paul
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Thanks, Paul – and glad to hear you’re pro-weed! 😁
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Beautiful Ku, Betty!
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Thank you, Francina! 🥀💕
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That is true of people too Betty !! 💜💗
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Thanks for pointing that out, Willow. You’re right! 🌹🌸🌻🌼🥀🏵️😃
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💗💜🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹💜💗
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Beautiful post!
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Feels happy when read!
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Thank you, I’m glad. 🙂
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wisdom in so few words…life is like this.
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It seems I never replied to this – thanks very much for commenting. 🙂
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