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The Pure Land in the Palm of Your Hand
Excerpt from the Dharma talk on September 17, 2011, by Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh
When the young corn plant manifests, we no longer see the original form of the corn seed. The seed seems to have died to give birth to the plant, but in fact, the seed has not died; it has only been reborn as the corn plant. There is no death; the true nature of the seed is unborn and undying. When you have wisdom, looking at the corn plant, you can see the seed—not in its old form, but in its new form. The corn plant is the continuation of the seed; the corn plant is the seed. When the corn plant grows to a meter and a half, with flowers and two ears of corn, that is also the continuation of the original seed. When looking at the corn silk and new ears of corn, we must see the original seed.
Similarly, when you look at yourself, you will see that you are the continuation of your father and mother. You are your father, you are your mother. This is an obvious truth. You must acknowledge that your father and mother are truly present in every cell of your body. You cannot take your father out of yourself. You cannot take your mother out of yourself.