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”Zen Words” Plum blossoms, fragrant in harmony with the snow

Plum blossoms start to bloom when it is still cold in winter.

The sight of small plum blossoms blooming in a snow-covered, all-white world seems to have brought us much inspiration since ancient times.


Plum blossoms, fragrant in harmony with the snow.


In a world where the white plum blossoms and snow are in harmony with the white colour of the world, there is a slight fragrance of plum blossoms.

This Zen words describes such a winter scene.


The word is often interpreted in an encouraging way, as the plum blossom blooms after enduring severe cold, and it is only by enduring suffering that it blooms beautifully, or that suffering is not something to be avoided, but to be shared.


By the way, when one practices deep Zen meditation, there can come a moment when one intuitively understands that oneself and the world are one.

 Yet, even with such realization, the world may still appear fragmented, individuality remains, and "I" am still “me.“


This seeming contradiction―the unity of the self and the world, and the persistent existence of individuality―might appear irreconcilable at a logical or linguistic level. 

However, Zen teaches that in reality, these two coexist seamlessly.


Many Zen phrases, as I interpret them, capture symbolic scenes from nature to express this apparent paradox of coexistence.


The plum blossoms and snow are in harmony and all white.

And in the fragrance of the snow, there is a faint scent of plum blossoms.


It is open to interpretation. Zen words are tasteful and enjoyable. Tosei Shinabe


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