One day in the summer, I was at the temple and watching the pond with the lotuses. The blooming and withered lotus flowers reminded me of my past circumstances. However, I realized that even when a lotus wilts, its roots remain alive and strong beneath the surface of the water, embedded in the mud. The next year, it produces new leaves and blooms beautifully once again. As the seasons change, the roots quietly fulfill their role out of sight. Surely, other plants are the same. The important thing, I felt the lotus taught me, is to fulfill one's own duty, doing what needs to be done at each moment.