Summary

Ram Dass's quote likens the self to a flower, with a still center representing our essence and the petals symbolizing the ever-changing aspects of life.

Abstract

The article reflects on a profound analogy by Ram Dass where he compares the self to a flower. The center of the flower represents the unchanging, still essence within every individual, akin to the concept of atman in Hinduism or the soul. This stillness is always present, though it may be more noticeable during quiet reflection and less so amidst the chaos of daily life. The petals of the flower signify the dynamic, transient aspects of existence, illustrating the Buddhist notion of impermanence. Just as the petals change and adapt, so do we, constantly evolving both physically and behaviorally. The article emphasizes that while our bodies and experiences are in flux, our core essence remains untouched and perfect, needing no alteration. The path to realizing this unchanging center involves shedding the accumulated "inner garbage" of ego and past conditioning that often obscures our true nature. The author encourages readers to engage in meditative practices to aid in this realization.

Opinions

The author finds Ram Dass's flower analogy to be a powerful representation of the self, resonating deeply with the idea of an immutable core within each person.
Eckhart Tolle's teachings are referenced to illustrate the varying prominence of our still presence, depending on our activities and surroundings.
The article suggests that life's impermanence is best understood through the Buddhist concept of impermanence, where nothing remains constant from moment to moment.
The author personally relates to the analogy, observing the constant change in his children and his own physical sensations, while acknowledging the unchanging nature of his inner essence or atman.
The author posits that realizing our true essence involves letting go of egoic and samskaric baggage, which often dominates our sense of identity.
The author offers a practical solution by inviting readers to try a simple, free meditation program available on his website to help in the realization of the self's still center.

Ram Dass’s Beautiful Quote About Imagining Yourself as a Flower

It’s a brilliant analogy that captures the essence of who we are.

I came across a Ram Dass writing this morning that absolutely sang to me. It’s about thinking of ourselves as parts of a flower:

“Just imagine a flower and think about the center of the flower and then all the petals that come out from the center and think of the center of the flower as absolutely still, and think of all of the petals as moving, and energy, and change, but the center is still.”

Love that. So analogous to who we are. How?

We all possess that still center. In fact, that still center is the essence of every one of us. As we go about our lives that still presence is omnipresent.

Stillness in the foreground and background

But as Eckhart Tolle teaches, the degree to which that still presence is at the forefront varies depending on what’s going on. When we’re meditating or praying in a quiet church, it’s at the forefront. When we’re trying to make dinner and three of our kids are running around the house screaming at each other, that still presence is more in the background.

What about those flower petals? Ram Dass sees them as the movement, energy and change taking place around the central stillness.

I view those petals as being like clouds in the sky, constantly moving across the sky. But the sky is always there. Omnipresent. Always still.

And the petals also represent the dynamic of constant change that characterize life. All life.

The impermanent nature of life

It’s best captured by the Buddhist concept of impermanence. Things never stay the same. Not even from moment to moment.

I see it so clearly with my three young kids. They are constantly evolving. New words. New behaviors. New physical attributes.

Like the petals, which sway this way and that way. And maybe get too much sun and not enough water some day or two or three or twenty-three so their color changes or they dry out.

My body feels fine one morning then I sit for three hours of writing and my back gets stiff. My calves tighten up. My body never feels completely the same two days in a row. Constantly changing.

The unchanging center of the flower

But my essence, my “center of the flower,” stays the same. It’s unchanging. It’s my spirit. My soul. My atman as the Hindus call it. It’s that tiny slice of God, the universe, the original source, whatever you want to call it, that lies deep within every one of us.

And like the flower, it’s perfect. It doesn’t need to be changed or perfected in any way. Because it’s perfect already.

All it needs is to be realized. To be identified as the essence of who we are.

How do we do that? We let go of all the egoic/samskaric baggage we’ve accumulated over our lifetime. The inner garbage that constantly demands that we place attention on it instead of that still center part of the flower. That stuff that is so powerful that most of the seven billion souls on this planet believe that that is who they are.

The takeaway

Well, it’s not who you are. You’re that still center of the flower. And the most important work of our lives involves the work in realizing that.

Try my simple, free meditation program at davidgerken.net.