The story by Maaike Hartjes in ‘Go Home: 12 Moving Stories’ tells of a baby bird born a little different. He searches for acceptance, and tries to give up some of his unique physical features, while trying to take up ones similar to others. However, despite his efforts, he is repeatedly rejected by other birds. In the end, he meets one bird after another, of various shapes, sizes and colours, who bear the same special twirly head feather that no other birds had.
If even you are unable to accept your’self’,
which ‘self’ do you expect others
to be able to accept of you?– Stonepeace
Gathering upon a tree, birds literally of ‘a feather’ flock together in celebration… not so much of their single similarity on their heads though, but of their diversity! It’s a twist to the ‘same same but different’ idea. Different different but same too are we. No matter how different we look physical, we have the same non-physical Buddha-nature – if we look deeper spiritually. When we strive to recognise and reveal our Buddha-nature together, it is the best celebration of any kind!
This reminds me of the story ‘Ugly duckling’.
I can understand the reasoning in the above stonepeace quote.
However, I wish to add this as well: some come together appreciating each other’s uniqueness, be it in terms of physical or otherwise. Some can’t.
There are others who can embrace and accept whichever ‘self’ you present to them. They care and love you all the same.
Look for such people. They are not easy to find. But they exist.
In short, while learning to accept your ‘self’, don’t give up in believing and searching for those who can love you all the same, regardless of which self you present to them.
The Ugly Duckling story was about a swan finding other swans. The above story has a twist – the bird found company with different birds (who were similar only by a feather). Paradoxically, sometimes, it takes the different to appreciate the different, while those outwardly similar can be taken for granted. The fully enlightened can fully embrace all beings. One of the guaranteed ways to be able to find them is in Pureland. (The Stonepeace quote is more about the vagueness of the ‘self’ who desires acceptance; less about the ability of others to accept.) Amituofo