The Chinese Bamboo

I have recently been awestruck by a teaching on the Chinese bamboo. It goes something like this. A tiny bamboo seed is planted, and then for the first five years, it appears as though nothing is happening accept for a tiny sprout protruding from the surface of the ground. During those five years, the root system is developing; a complicated system where all the growth takes place underground. Then, at the end of the five years, within just six weeks, the bamboo suddenly grows and grows, shooting upward, reaching a height of about 25 meters, or 90 feet. What this extensive root system offers is a solid foundation for the bamboo to continue to stand tall, able to withstand high winds that would ultimately topple the plant if it should possess a smaller root system.

We can learn much from the Chinese bamboo, as we possess many of its qualities.

For years, as I worked on my self-development, not much seemed to happen. It appeared as if no growth was happening, and that everything I had worked on so hard was futile. I felt discouraged and frustrated and like many others, in abject frustration, I felt like giving up and tossing it all to the curb. I felt as though I were mired in an endless vacuum.  Only the tiniest manifestation of my fruits appeared, yet – I persisted, just because I was driven by something deep within me I couldn’t quite understand. What I wasn’t conscious of were the intricate happenings deep within my soul.

The Chinese bamboo teaches us about patience and perseverance, and that what is going on is not always what we see on the surface. We live in a society where instant results and what we perceive with the five senses are highly favoured over savouring the intricate process of growth and development. Deep underground, is a wealth of preparation, a foundation that will help us to stand tall and to be a deeper and more self-actualized person.

The task is to trust in the process, and to know that what we experience on the surface and in the light is not all there is.

Like the bamboo, it may take years to build a strong foundation for our own spiritual and personal growth, while on the surface appearing to be just a wisp, never growing and changing. The intricacy of the teachings we receive, the healing, and all the work we do on ourselves, is the foundation we are building to enable us to withstand the strong winds of adversity, and to become the person we want to be. In fact, adversity is what is also involved in building that foundation.

So, the message is clear. Don’t give up! Push past your fears and doubt, and continue on your path. How much are you willing to cultivate your hope and make your dreams come true? You may not be aware of how much you are growing and healing until sometime later on your path. Then at some point, you rise up, tall and strong, with your foundation grounding and holding you, as you reap the rewards of all your hard work.