Later, the Lotus

Vietnamese Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh famously opined, "No mud, no lotus."

We have to do a bit of trudging.

We have to face our discomfort.

We have to work through the difficulty.

We have to get curious about the suffering.

But he also said that it is okay to suffer. We shouldn't avoid it or be afraid of it. It is normal and natural to suffer. We just have to watch out for denying it or fearing it.

That's the mud. Later, the lotus.

Later we can experience freedom from suffering.

Later we can experience joy and lightness.

Later we can wash off the mud and behold the beauty of the thousand-petaled lotus.

Our mind will quiet.

Our heart will open.

We will be calm.

But we can't get there without the mud!