Love Vision Rule #17: Be Flexible Like Bamboo

Rule #17: Be Flexible Like Bamboo

You must learn to be like bamboo. You need to be flexible, yet strong…so that you can bend without breaking. The symbolism of the bamboo plant runs deep and offers valuable lessons for life. The practical, aesthetic, and spiritual significance of bamboo is deeply embedded in both Japanese and Chinese culture. To the Chinese people, bamboo is the symbolization of virtue. It reflects people’s souls and emotions. It is a symbol for longevity, as it always maintains green shoots—as well as strength and grace—because it bends readily but doesn’t break easily. Bamboo symbolizes strength, acceptance of the natural flow, and openness to wisdom in emptiness. It is also symbolic of commitment to continuous growth and living a simple and straightforward life.

Through research, I came across the following beautiful description of the bamboo plant: "Bamboo is flexible, bending with the wind but never breaking, capable of adapting to any circumstance. It suggests resilience, meaning that we have the ability to bounce back even from the most difficult times…Your ability to thrive depends, in the end, on your attitude to your life circumstances. Take everything in stride with grace, putting forth energy when it is needed, yet always staying calm inwardly." Ping Fu

Exercise #17- Be Flexible: Let the bamboo serve to remind you of all the important yet simple lessons it symbolizes. It is now up to you to put these lessons of resilience into daily use through practice and perseverance. Just remember, you don’t need to be perfect…you need only to be resilient. This is the greatest lesson from the bamboo.