A couple of months ago a rather mundane houseplant, that not many folks give attention to because it requires so little attention, began to send up a shoot. The shoot continued to grow, and one day an amazing fragrance drifting through my room registered in my consciousness. Yes, it is true, it took a few days to really bring attention to this stalk which was adorned with very tiny and, it seems, easy to ignore flowers. This plant was flowering and emitting a divine fragrance. I did some research and found that this only happens every few decades! Ego wanted to rate this as a big deal, while ignoring a host of other concurrent miracles. This seems a perfect example of the ego sorting process. The plant had been placed in the unimportant category until it did something conditioned mind labeled extraordinary. There was some noodling as to how to acknowledge and celebrate this rare event but nothing seemed to quite do it. After the stalk had completed its cycle, it dropped in that maybe "thank you" was it. Just say thank you. That may be just what is most appropriate for being given the gift of the presence of the Buddha in all forms, to say thank you and accept the gift. One never-ending thank you and every now and then a big hallelujah!
Gassho
Sequoia