Rice Grows Mighty Like a Rose and The Wisdom of the Sages
Daily Buddhist Quote
As writers, words are our superpower.
The pen is mightier and all that. But it’s not any words. We can’t throw words around like spaghetti on the wall and see what sticks. We need to know the right ones to use in the right place at the right time.
The title of my article today has references to roses and rice. Firstly, I cite the poem “The Rose is Obsolete”, by William Carlos Williams, an American poet and physician. It was published in 1923 in his book Spring and All. The poem is an example of Williams’ modernist style, which rejects the traditional symbols and forms of poetry and experiments with new images and structures. The poem challenges the conventional idea of the rose as a symbol of love and beauty and instead presents it as a geometric and abstract object that transcends the physical world. The poem also explores the relationship between art and reality, and the role of the poet in creating new meanings and expressions.
Valentine’s day is rapidly approaching. Bouquets are being prepared even now. The rose has become a trite metaphor, used endlessly as a symbol of love — having been plucked, given, and received endless times. But our brains become inured by this profusion and need the help of different eyes to penetrate beneath, beyond, and afresh. This, Williams proclaims, is the role of art and poetry.
…The place between the petal’s edge and the
From the petal’s edge a line starts that being of steel infinitely fine, infinitely rigid penetrates the Milky Way with The place between the petal’s edge and the
From the petal’s edge a line starts that being of steel infinitely fine, infinitely rigid penetrates the Milky Way without contact — lifting from it — neither hanging nor pushing —
The fragility of the flower unbruised penetrates space
out contact — lifting from it — neither hanging nor pushing —
The fragility of the flower unbruised penetrates space
Nichiren Daishonin, the original Buddha, used the rice plant as a metaphor for the propagation of the teachings of the Lotus Sutra to others, and how the benefits obtained from such actions are a transmittable heritage between mentor and disciple. But his statement reveals a deeper knowledge of the essence of plants as well.
Nichiren displays an understanding that the rice plant has an existence that is singular and profound.
“It is the power of the Lotus Sutra that can infuse such paintings and statues with a “soul” or spiritual property. This was the realization of the Great Teacher T’ien-t’ai. In the case of living beings, this doctrine is known as attaining Buddhahood in one’s present form; in the case of painted and wooden images, it is known as the enlightenment of plants and trees. This is why [the Great Teacher Chang-an] wrote, “There has never been anything to compare to the brightness and serenity of concentration and insight,” and why [the Great Teacher Miao-lo] stated, “They are nevertheless shocked and harbor doubts when they hear for the first time the doctrine that insentient beings possess the Buddha nature.”
And in this passage from the Writings of Nichiren Daishonin,
Words can have a flatness. They speak to our mental processes, our logical minds, and yet they can invite us to greater understanding when used with skillful wit. Music, can help find a way into our hearts that circumvent the barriers to listening with our whole being. The song lyrics, Mighty Like a Rose, a 1901 tune recorded by Paul Robeson with lyrics by Frank Lebby Stanton and music by Ethelbert Nevin, gives us a glimpse of the heaven that exists in ourselves — people and roses alike.
Mighty Like A Rose Lyrics
“Sweetest little fellow, everybody knows Don’t know what to call him but he’s mighty like a rose Lookin’ at his mammy with eyes so shiny blue Make you think that heaven is comin’ close to you
When he’s there sleepin’ in his little place Think I see angels lookin’ through the lace When the dark and fallin’, when the shadows creep Then they comes on tiptoe to kiss him in his sleep
Sweetest little fellow, everybody knows Don’t know what to call him but he’s mighty like a rose Lookin’ at his mammy with eyes so shiny blue Make you think that heaven is comin’ close to you
When the dark and fallin’, when the shadows creep Then they comes on tiptoe to kiss him in his sleep
Sweetest little fellow, everybody knows Don’t know what to call him but he’s mighty like a rose Lookin’ at his mammy with eyes so shiny blue Make you think that heaven is comin’ close to you.”
Will you give roses to your beloved this year? Or something else?
