A certain man planted a rose and watered it faithfully and before it blossomed, he examined it. He saw the bud that would soon blossom, but noticed thorns upon the stem and he thought, “How can any beautiful flower come from a plant burdened with so many sharp thorns?” Saddened by this thought, he neglected to water the rose, and just before it was ready to bloom… it died.

So it is with many people. Within every soul there is a rose. The good qualities planted in us at birth, grow amid the thorns of our faults. Many of us look at ourselves and see only the thorns, the defects.

We despair, thinking that nothing good can possibly come from us. We neglect to water the good within us, and eventually it dies. We never realize our potential.

Some people do not see the rose within themselves; someone else must show it to them. One of the greatest gifts a person can possess is to be able to reach past the thorns of another, and find the rose within them.

This is one of the characteristic of love… to look at a person, know their true faults and accepting that person into your life… all the while recognizing the nobility in their soul. Help others to realize they can overcome their faults. If we show them the “rose” within themselves, they will conquer their thorns. Only then will they blossom many times over.

source: here

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zendictive: Destiny (reblogged)

A student was walking with an older Zen Master, in the zen garden. Feeling a bit insecure about what life had in store for him, he ask the Zen Master for some advice. “When will I know my destiny? When will I know what life has in store for me?” The student asked.

The Zen Master walked up to a rosebush and handed the young student a rosebud and told him to open it without tearing off any petals. The young student looked in disbelief at the Master and was trying to figure out what a rosebud could possibly have to do with his wanting to know what was in store for his life. But because of his great respect for the Zen Master, he proceeded to try to unfold the rose, while keeping every petal intact…

It wasn’t long before he realized how impossible this was to do. The student then said, “I haven’t the wisdom to unfold this rose before its time.”

The older Zen Master replied; “Exactly, If you try and unfold this rose before its time, you will destroy it’s beauty and its purpose. Just as time unfolds the rose, time will unfold your destiny, your inner beauty and your purpose.”

“Your wisdom shines like the beauty of a rose that has blossomed,” The student said. “I am but a rosebud that has yet to open.” The Zen master smiled, knowing that the student had learned the lesson well.

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