Bamboo

Wandering here and there between papaya and banana trees, meditation is natural. Kokila birds chirp, children discover hideaways. And below the bamboo in the hollows of the canyon, a quiet stream meanders. The quiet here is satisfying. A human voice hangs in the air, chanting an old mantra. It is a good place to find your inner life.

Bamboo sways gently in the morning breeze. Bamboo is flexible, open to new directions. But its flexibility belies its great strength.

We are taught that humility and tolerance are great virtues. Sri Caitanya said, "be humble like the grass, tolerant as a tree." Bamboo is both grass and tree. Both humble, flexible, and tolerant. But  still, strong. There is much we can learn from bamboo.