I watched a little one from my window the other day; she was scrunched down with the greatest of care – gazing curiously into a newly formed buttercup.

And, even though just beyond the stone wall there were literally hundreds of flowers – still, this tiny little blossom standing proudly in a patch of roughened green, was the one that most captured her attention.

No matter the sweetness of the summer rose, nor the unmistakable allure of the stargazer lily – nothing could pull her away. Why even the proudest lady of the garden, Ms. Dahlia – stood no chance of winning this little one’s affections.

My goodness, we can learn so much from a child. Through their actions, we gain a deepened awareness of our surroundings.We begin to come alive, to take notice. We feel the imperfections of this mug in our hands, and yet – they never once detract from the solace of its warmth.

We see the miracle in the life-giving rain. We are captivated by the pattern of light through the trees. And, a simple bloom contains all the wonders of the universe.

This is the essence of the beginner’s mind. To look upon all things with curiosity, enthusiasm and wonderment – even amidst life’s greatest challenges.

To maintain this miraculous sense of our human spirit, that which was gifted by birth – to enjoy this earth in the fullest capacity.

This is what it means to be awakened.

“In the beginner’s mind there are many possibilities,
              in the expert’s mind there are few.”
—Shunryu Suzuki

We forget that our not-knowing mind is perhaps our greatest liberation. And, that the complexities of life are actually quite simple.

“You know,” I whispered, crouching down to her level “They say if you hold a buttercup to your chin, it’ll show you how sweet you really are.”

And with a wink, I walked away – knowing wonderment is still the better part of this human being..