 |
 |
 |
 |
flowers
Their Spiritual significance
Photo Collection
Modesty
Is satisfied with its own charm and does not draw attention to itself.
|
|
|
|
Viola odorata L. (Violaceae)
Sweet violet
Deep violet
Modesty
Modesty
Who is this coming to the door of this Japanese house?
It is the flower-artist, the man who is skilled in arranging flowers.
The master of the house brings a tray with some flowers, a pair of scissors, a knife, a little saw, and a beautiful vase.
"Sir," he says, "I cannot make a bouquet beautiful enough for such a beautiful vase."
"I am sure you can," replies the master politely as he leaves the room.
Left alone, the artist sets to work, cutting, snipping, twisting and tying until a beautiful bunch of flowers fills the vase - a delight to the eyes.
The master and his friends enter the room; the artist stands to one side and murmurs, "My bouquet is too poor, let it be taken away."
"No," replies the master, "it is good."
To one side of the table, near the vase, the artist has left a pair of scissors. By this he means that if there is any flaw in the bouquet, anyone can take the scissors and cut away what offends the eye.
The artist has done a fine piece of work, but he would not dream of exalting its merits. He admits that he may have made mistakes. He is modest.
Perhaps the Japanese artist really thinks that his work deserves compliments. I cannot tell his thoughts. But at any rate he does not boast and his behaviour is pleasing.
On the other hand, we smile at people who are vain.
Suleiman, Caliph of Damascus, was like that. One Friday, coming out of his hot bath, he dressed himself in green clothes, put on a green turban, sat on a green couch, and even the carpet all around was green. And then looking into a mirror and feeling pleased with himself, he said, "The Prophet Mohammed was an apostle, Ali Bakr was a faithful servant of the truth, Omar could distinguish the true from the false, Otman was modest, Ali was brave, Muawiyah was merciful, Yazid was patient, Abd-ul-Malik a good governor, Walid a powerful master, but I am young and handsome."
The flowers in the vase are beautifully arranged and our eyes are delighted. But it is for us and not for the artist to praise them.
Suleiman is handsome. It is true that there is no harm in his knowing it, but we laugh at his vanity when he gazes at himself in a mirror and tells himself that his good looks make him a finer man than Omar the truthful or Yazid the patient.
The Mother
The Mother. Collected Works of the Mother.- Volume 2. - The Path of Later On