"I asked the leaf whether it was frightened because it was autumn
and the other leaves were falling…. The leaf told me, “No. During
the whole spring and summer I was completely alive. I worked hard
to help nourish the tree, and now much of me is in the tree.
I am not limited by this form. I am also the whole
tree, and when I go back to the soil, I will continue to nourish
the tree. So I don’t worry at all. As I leave this branch and float
to the ground, I will wave to the tree and tell her, ‘I will see
you again very soon.’
That day there was a wind blowing
and after a while, I saw the leaf leave the branch and float down
to the soil, dancing joyfully, because as it floated it saw itself
already there in the tree. It was so happy. I bowed my head,
knowing that I have a lot to learn from the leaf."
excerpt from “Peace Is Every
Step: The Path of Mindfulness in Everyday Life” ~
Thich Nhat
Hanh