pampass grass

I'm at Hampi, in Karnataka, India, and at this time of year the river, though still wide, is quite low, and much of the river bed is exposed. And here, sitting in the river bed, I find there as much pampas grass around. I love this grass. It seems quite unlikely. The stems grow tall: two, or three metres even. They are strong, and yet still flecks in the wind, so as not to snap. But the really amazing thing about the pampas grass is its soft downy head: seeds, I guess. In fact, I see some of them blowing in the wind. But this downy tip to the pampas grass, is so soft. Brushing up against it, one can barely sense it.

And sitting here with the pampas grass, it reminds me of the buddha nature within us. It is at one and the same time, standing tall, with strength to it, and yet not rigid, not brittle, but bending as needed, with the winds of life. And combined with this strength, with this ability to stand tall, the buddha nature has a tremendous, soft sensitivity. It's so delicate, at the same time as being strong and incorruptible. And I love this – this combination of strength and softness. I love it in the pampas grass, I love it in people, and above all I love it in the buddha within.