(Buddhist
value: Fresh and beautiful flowers of today will become withered
and ugly tomorrow. This reminds us of the Buddha's teaching that
all things are impermanent.)
Imagine
that you are a beautiful flower. What kind of flower are you?
See the colours of your petals. Appreciate that you are now a
beautiful flower.
Someone
comes along and buys you from the flower shop. She puts you into
a vase filled with water. You are gently sucking up the water
and blooming more beautifully than before. You are fresh and sending
off a sweet fragrance. The lady puts you on the table and offers
you to the Buddha. You stand beautifully in the vase, bringing
joy and happiness to people's hearts when they see you.
One
day has passed. Slowly, the colour of your petals becomes dull.
You are no longer sending off a sweet fragrance. Your petals become
withered and discoloured. You are ugly and faded.
Although
you are a withered flower, you are still happy in your heart.
You know that you have an important role to play. Your role is
to remind people of the Buddha's teaching that all things are
impermanent. All things are constantly going through change. Everyone's
body too, like your petals, will wither and pass away. Everyone
should keep impermanence in mind and live in the present.
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