in the quietude of our monastery, where the rebuff of worldly distractions allows for a deeper connection to the divine, we come to appreciate the journey of rice. this humble grain teaches us the essence of growth, reminding us to start from the commencement, nurturing our spirits with patience and dedication. the imperceptible changes that occur from pre-introductory stages to the eventual model of harvest mirror our own transformations, revealing that true progress is often unseen to the eye yet profoundly felt within the heart.