Our True Heritage

by Thich Nhat Hanh

The cosmos is filled with precious gems.
I want to offer a handful of them to you this morning.
Each moment you are alive is a gem,
shining through and containing earth and sky,
water and clouds.

You only need to breathe lightly
for the miracles to be displayed.
Suddently you hear the birds singing,
the pines chanting;
you see the flowers blooming,
the blue sky,
the white clouds,
the smile and the marvelous look
of your beloved.

You, the richest person on Earth,
who has been going around begging for a living,
stop being the destitute child.
Come back and claim your true heritage.
We should enjoy our happiness
and offer it to everyone.
Cherish this very moment.
Let go of the river of suffering
and embrace life fully in your arms.