Sixty-Four

The tallest tree begins

as a tiny seed.

A single step begins a journey

of a thousand miles.

The Taj Mahal started

with one shovel of dirt.

Rushing into action, one fumbles.

Trying to hold on, one slips.

Forcing a project to completion,

one spoils what was almost ripe.

The wise ones let things

take their course.

They do not cling to things,

so they do not lose them.

The wise ones want less of what they want.

They unlearn

and return again

to what others neglect to notice.

The quality of one's attention

is the thousand-petaled lotus.