The Prize

Despite the harsh conditions outside, I feel a thorough calmness, and shelter from the storm so intensely affecting my mother, and no doubt my brother as well. I cannot say with certainty exactly why this is, but whatever the reason, it is good. My shelter extends much farther, although only has grown so far fairly recently. I feel deep peace despite turmoil. I have dropped many of my worldly concerns, some of which I will not mention now, but it is liberating. The greatest advice I've received to date (or at least the advice I am most actively applying) is: "do not fight/resist the natural course of (your) life." This single sentiment is to thank for my peace. Indeed, this is the state of the birds and the lilies. My continued survival is a testament to the truth of the birds. I have not yet received the prize of the lilies, but this does not concern me. In fact, should I never receive it, it would not matter at all. The state itself is beyond it, such that it reduces the allure of the prize to that of the most trivial, and even mundane (dare I say, vulgar) of things. It is as though I have aquired a kingdom. So what need is there for a crown? If I didn't know better, I would simply regard it as a hollow and empty symbol, just as any other of worldly status. The king does not need to be told he is the greatest—he is! Being told so means nothing. Being declared so is meaningless. Suppose I were to tell you something (remind you of something) grand: the greatest secret of all. Then I said: you are alive! The anti-climactic lack of a reaction is similar to offering the prize of the lilies to someone in the state of the lily.