Seedlings 苗 from Collection of Rain Blossoms

Breaking through the ground's surface, this seedling has a remarkable potential. Photo by Gelgas Airlangga from Pexels

A sprout is the little shoot that grows from a seed. At first it is fragile, so small you might not even notice it. Some might even think it has no worth. Yet within it lies great promise. It can grow strong. It can spread its branches, bloom with flowers, and bear fruit. Life keeps going because of sprouts just like this.

Let me give you an example. Think of a single bean. Inside, tucked between its two halves, is a sprout no bigger than a grain of sand. That is where new life waits. And when the right things come together—when it receives water and warmth—that tiny sprout bursts into life. In time, it may grow into a tall tree, even into a forest. See? So much can begin from something so little.

The Sprout of Goodness in the Heart

And so it is with the sprout of goodness in the human heart. Many people say, “Those who follow the Buddha’s way should give rise to kind thoughts.” This is true. But remember: goodness is not measured by big or small. Even if you haven’t acted yet, one sincere thought already plants the seed. That sprout of goodness is alive in the heart, waiting quietly for its moment to grow.

And when that moment arrives, it will take root. It will branch, blossom, and bear fruit. Its future is wide open.

This is why we speak of the sprout of goodness. It reminds us that doing good is not about many words. It is not about how great or how small the act seems. What truly matters is the heart—the sincerity and the real wish to do good.

苗

雨花集

濟公活佛

苗, 就是植物種子之芽, 幼弱得可憐, 幾乎藐小到令人不堪注目, 可是它之前途, 極為長遠, 開枝結果, 生生不息, 亦憑著此藐小的苗, 可不是嗎?

試看一粒荳, 除了兩片肉壁之外, 苗芽小得像一粒小砂, (苗就在這裡) 可是他一經因緣配合, 得水之助, 便勃然而興, 成樹成林, 亦由此藐小的苗而起。

人心裡的善苗, 亦猶如是, 許多人說, 學佛之人, 應該興善念, 此語誠不差, 但說到善苗, 並無大小之分, 雖然善事未見諸實行, 但既有一念之善, 苗亦能蘊藏待發,

如果一有因緣, 心內之善苗, 必定開枝結實, 前途無限, 今提出善苗二字, 意在闡明為善不在多言, 不求大小而已。

A Personal Reflection

This teaching feels so true. About twenty years ago, I made a quiet vow: to begin cultivating at ground zero. By this I meant starting as someone with very little understanding, burdened with many obstacles, yet still setting my heart on the path. My hope was that, through my journey, others who struggle in the same way might see that liberation is possible for them too.

For a long time, that vow seemed hidden, like a seed beneath the soil. Life went on, many things came and went, yet I never let it slip from my heart.

Now, two decades later, I see it was never lost. Like a small sprout waiting for its season, it has quietly taken root. And today it begins to blossom, as I share my journey through the translation of this book. No kind thought is ever too small. Hold it in the heart, and in time, it will blossom.

This is not only true for that one vow. I have made other vows as well—quiet and private, shared with no one. They remain with me, held in silence and in my heart. Yet Heaven knows. As the saying goes, Heaven fulfills the vow of a sincere heart — 善願天從. Each day, I see this truth alive in my life.

This translated text is a chapter from Collection of Rain Blossoms, a scripture written by JiGong Living Buddha in the 1900s through spirit writing. Here the link to the original Chinese source.

If you are interested in other chapters of this book, here is the link to the table of contents.