What seeds are we sowing now?
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By Kim Sun-ae
A few days ago, I saw a blind woman and her guide dog, while I was standing on the street. The young woman, dressed neatly, was walking slowly and carefully with her dog’s help. The dog, which looked gentle, was guiding her, becoming her eyes. I looked at them for a while until they disappeared.
We take our two eyes for granted, but they are an amazing window on the world. That we can see is actually a miracle. Not all people can look into their loved ones’ eyes.
Nonetheless, we often waste this precious ability to see. We spend time reading things that are not helpful. We even look at harmful things.
Everything we see becomes a seed in our mind. What we see, hear, eat ― everything we experience each moment affects us to a greater or lesser degree.
We are planting numerous seeds every day. Each moment, consciously or unconsciously, we sow a seed ― a thought, feeling, word and action.
It can be a positive seed like care, kindness and compassion, or it can be a negative one like greed, hatred and anger. And when the seed meets the right conditions ― the right soil and temperature ― and is watered enough, it sprouts.
A month ago, I sowed barley seeds on a field with several people. For beginners like me, an expert demonstrated how to spread them. From the back, scattering seeds widely, he looked wonderful. His movement, free and spontaneous, was art. We planted barley in the soft soil, hoping the cereal would grow well.
About a week later, small, green shoots came out. I could not help but smile, looking at the barley shoots wet with the morning dew. They are growing nicely and will be ripe and golden next summer.
Most of the time, we are sprinkling seeds not knowing what they are. We are thinking about something before realizing the facts, and only later do we become aware that we are thinking. Often, emotions such as a dislike or anxiety arise before we know it.
I once planted a seed of sorrow and watered it so much that it became a tree. But the tree of sadness can be transformed into excellent compost for seeds of joy, love and understanding. We can understand other people in difficulties because we, too, have been there. Any past experience can turn into something helpful. From all experiences, we can learn a lesson and move on. If our potential is in full bloom, how beautiful it will be.
My mind was capricious countless times today. The mind is a curious thing. One moment it is endlessly generous, and another moment it becomes narrower than a needle’s eye.
However, I want to do my best to live with wholesome intentions. If I do a harmful act to myself and others because of ignorance, I would like to realize it before it is too late and correct it. I hope that my thoughts, speech and behavior are beneficial to all beings.
We should select carefully what seeds to sow and should know what seeds we are planting. What seeds are we sowing now?
In the Gilsangsa Temple that I sometimes visit, there is a zelkova tree more than 260 years old. It is so big that even if two adults hug it, their hands do not touch each other’s. Nevertheless, the tall and large tree was once a tiny seed. All big things begin with a small thing.
We all have good seeds like love and consideration in ourselves. We can help one another to grow the best seed in us. With our family, friends and neighbors, we will be able to grow it into a beautiful tree.
The writer translates writings about agriculture and rural communities. Her blog address is https://blog.naver.com/dancinglf.