From Zorba The Greek (Nikos Kazanzakis):
"I remembered one morning when I discovered a cocoon in the bark of a tree, just as the butterfly was making a hole in its case and preparing to come out. I waited a while, but it was too long appearing and I was impatient. I bent over it and breathed on it to warm ít. I warmed it as quickly as I could and the miracle began to happen before my eyes, faster than life. The case opened, the butterfly started slowly crawling out and I shall never forget my horror when I saw how its wings were folded back and crumpled; the wretched butterfly tried with its whole trembling body to unfold them. Bending over it, I tried to help it with my breath. In vain. It needed to be hatched out patiently and the unfolding of the wings should be a gradual process in the sun. Now it was too late. My breath had forced the butterfly to appear, all crumpled, before its time. It struggled desperately and, a few seconds later, died in the palm of my hand.
That little body is, I do believe, the greatest weight I have on my conscience. For I realize today that it is a mortal sin to violate the great laws of nature. We should not hurry, we should not be impatient, but we should confidently obey the eternal rhythm."
Wonderful portrayal of a simple tale, but a powerful experience. From how you look at it, this is either a picture of enlightenment or sadness.
Enlightenment: Because this presents us with such a vividity the experience of a feeling that was till this moment hidden away, so much masked by the mundanity of life that the light of it is nowhere to be seen, but so strong that you feel its presence in your heart like the gentlest breeze.
Sadness: Because it paints a picture of the man who has lost the anchor of his soul that he stops with an awe at the faintest aroma of the spirit that has left him, instead of leaping ahead to meet the splendor of the flower waiting for him.
"I remembered one morning when I discovered a cocoon in the bark of a tree, just as the butterfly was making a hole in its case and preparing to come out. I waited a while, but it was too long appearing and I was impatient. I bent over it and breathed on it to warm ít. I warmed it as quickly as I could and the miracle began to happen before my eyes, faster than life. The case opened, the butterfly started slowly crawling out and I shall never forget my horror when I saw how its wings were folded back and crumpled; the wretched butterfly tried with its whole trembling body to unfold them. Bending over it, I tried to help it with my breath. In vain. It needed to be hatched out patiently and the unfolding of the wings should be a gradual process in the sun. Now it was too late. My breath had forced the butterfly to appear, all crumpled, before its time. It struggled desperately and, a few seconds later, died in the palm of my hand.
That little body is, I do believe, the greatest weight I have on my conscience. For I realize today that it is a mortal sin to violate the great laws of nature. We should not hurry, we should not be impatient, but we should confidently obey the eternal rhythm."
Wonderful portrayal of a simple tale, but a powerful experience. From how you look at it, this is either a picture of enlightenment or sadness.
Enlightenment: Because this presents us with such a vividity the experience of a feeling that was till this moment hidden away, so much masked by the mundanity of life that the light of it is nowhere to be seen, but so strong that you feel its presence in your heart like the gentlest breeze.
Sadness: Because it paints a picture of the man who has lost the anchor of his soul that he stops with an awe at the faintest aroma of the spirit that has left him, instead of leaping ahead to meet the splendor of the flower waiting for him.
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