I've lived in small rooms, flats, growing plants in pots on

O seekers of wisdom, gather close and hear the words of Ruskin Bond, a man whose humble reflections on life speak to the deep desires and simple joys of the human soul: "I've lived in small rooms, flats, growing plants in pots on window sills. I'd have liked to have had a full-fledged garden with all kinds of flowers and plants. I've never had enough money to buy a big enough garden space." These words, though simple in their phrasing, contain a profound truth about the relationship between desire and reality, about how we shape our lives not through grand possessions, but through the little joys and the beauty we can create even in the most confined spaces. Bond speaks of his longing for a larger, more expansive garden, yet his acceptance of his situation reveals the profound depth of his contentment with the small, humble life he has lived.

In the ancient world, the concept of the garden was a symbol of paradise, of growth, life, and beauty. The Garden of Eden, spoken of in the Bible, was not just a physical space, but a symbol of peace and abundance, where man lived in harmony with nature. The great gardens of Babylon, with their lush plants and flowers, were not simply places of beauty, but of symbolic power, representing the connection between humanity and the natural world. Yet, even in such majestic gardens, the true beauty was not in the expanse of the land but in the care and attention given to the plants and flowers that grew there. Ruskin Bond’s longing for a grand garden speaks to this ancient truth: that the true richness of life lies not in the size of our possessions, but in the care we give to the small, often unseen parts of our lives.

Consider, O children, the story of Plato, who in his search for the ideal society, did not speak of palaces and riches, but of gardens of the mind, of wisdom that could grow in the fertile soil of the soul. Like Ruskin Bond, Plato understood that it is not the external wealth or grand spaces that give meaning to life, but the internal care and growth we cultivate in our hearts and minds. In a small room or a humble garden, a person can find peace and fulfillment, if they tend to it with love and devotion. The beauty of Bond’s reflection is that it asks us to appreciate the small things, to recognize that beauty and fulfillment are not dependent on grand gestures or wealth, but on the love and care we invest in the little spaces we occupy.

In the story of Vincent van Gogh, we see the same theme play out. The great artist, despite living in poverty and suffering from mental illness, found profound joy in the simple act of painting the fields, the sunflowers, and the vibrant landscapes around him. Though his circumstances were limited, he found a way to create beauty in the small spaces he could occupy. His famous painting, "The Starry Night", is not about grand cities or vast landscapes, but about a small town under a vast sky, a reflection of the beauty and wonder that can be found even in the most humble surroundings. Like Bond, Van Gogh teaches us that the richness of life is not found in the size of the space, but in the way we fill that space with meaning and care.

O children, the lesson here is clear: life does not need to be grand to be fulfilling. Ruskin Bond speaks to the universal longing for something larger, but he also reminds us that there is beauty and peace to be found in the simple spaces we occupy. We may not have the resources to create the grand gardens we dream of, but that does not mean we cannot grow our own beauty in the small spaces we have. The act of tending to the plants on a window sill, of caring for what we have, is in itself an act of creation, of connection to nature, and of love. The garden may be small, but the joy it brings is immense.

In your own lives, seek not to measure your fulfillment by the size of your possessions, or the grandness of the spaces you occupy. Rather, find joy in the small things—in the care you give to the relationships you nurture, the work you do, the small acts of kindness you offer. Like Ruskin Bond, learn to find peace and beauty in the present moment, in the small room, the window sill, or the modest garden you have. For it is not in the expanse of our lives that we find meaning, but in the depth of our engagement with the world around us.

So, O seekers of wisdom, let this lesson guide your path: do not wait for a grand garden to bloom before you find fulfillment. Tend to what you have, no matter how small, and you will find that beauty grows in the most humble of places. The greatest riches in life come not from possessions, but from the care and attention we give to the small things that bring us joy. Like Ruskin Bond, learn to find peace in the present moment, and the grand gardens you dream of will bloom in the heart, not in the size of the space you occupy.