There’s an onion that grows wild in the forests of Asia. Its spice lends such a delicate aroma, a perfect balance for the local cuisine. People travel from many miles away simply to partake in its savory goodness.

You might think, given its popularity, that the plant’s essence might soon be depleted. But, quite the opposite is true. In fact, were you to harvest it’s sweetness, it would grow back much stronger than ever before.

The send is true of human kindness and generosity. “We exist in interbeing with all of life,” Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh shares. “When we understand this fundamental truth, our acts of giving will be made in the spirit of nondiscrimination.”

We do, not because we expect acknowledgement or reward – but, rather simply, because the energy of goodness belongs to all and in this space we are the means by which it grows.

“We don’t have to give $100,000 or even $10,” he writes. “instead we can offer a smile or a loving, compassionate gaze. We can give the gift of our calm, concentrated presence to help someone who is fearful or anxious. We can make an offering of our time and energy and work with the homeless, or with those who are prisoners or are addicted to different substances, or to work on helping the environment. We have plenty of gifts to offer; we are far wealthier than we may imagine. We can help secure the happiness of many people even if we don’t have a single penny in our pocket. When we are motivated by the desire to give, even if we have not yet offered anything yet, just the intention to offer our help and understanding, our willingness to listen and communicate, begins to lessen our own and others’ suffering.”

It is this simple act of giving that serves as a catalyst to our own awakening. And our actions, a measure of change. In the end, only love can make this garden grow.

In peace, my sweet friends…

Namaste ❣