12/11/2025
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The Four Gardens of the Heart 💜
An ancient story tells that a young seeker once asked a wise monk how to find inner peace.
The monk smiled and said:
—Within you lie four gardens. If you tend to them, your soul will blossom like a lotus in still water.
The first garden is that of Loving-Kindness (Metta).
There, flowers bloom open toward all beings, without exception.
The seeker learned to wish happiness not only for himself but also for others —like the sun that shines without asking whom it warms.
The second garden is that of Compassion (Karuna).
Here, water flows to ease the thirst of those who suffer.
The young man understood that seeing another’s pain and responding with tenderness also heals one’s own heart.
The third garden is that of Joyful Empathy (Mudita).
Among its trees, birds sing when another one blooms.
The seeker learned to rejoice sincerely in the happiness of others, and in that joy discovered an endless source of peace.
The fourth garden is that of Equanimity (Upekkha).
This is a quiet garden, where the wind does not disturb the waters.
The wise one taught that to love and to feel compassion does not mean to cling, but to keep the heart calm amid life’s inevitable changes.
And so, when the young man tended to the four gardens, he realized that peace was not something to be found elsewhere—
it was already blossoming within him.
Write to us if you’d like to explore and bring to life more stories inspired by this philosophy. 🌸
