Review of “A Handful of Nothing” by Ken Gullette.
The author, Ken Gullette, gaveme a copy of this book exactly one year ago. I’ve enjoyed readingit, all be it slowly, because this is a book that shouldn’t berushed. It is an asset to be savored for its calming scenes andpassages that require a bit of reflection.
Whatcomes to my mind first are a few thoughts in chapter 80, page 183:
“Themaster continued, ‘Just like this stone, you are being shaped bythe stream of life. … Seekingperfection is an endless pursuit. But striving to be a better personeach day—that is a journey worth taking.
Heplaced the stone in the monk’s hand. ‘When you see a stone, letit remind you that perfection is not the goal. The true path lies inembracing your imperfections and transforming them through continuousgrowth. It is in the daily effort to be better, to spread kindnessand truth, and to see the world as it is without judgment orsupernatural delusions—that is where true wisdom is found.’”
Forme, that was an instant reminder of a gemstone I purchased ages agofrom a gem and mineral show. The original piece of transparentgemstone material would have been heavily marked with alternatingcolors, banding in blues and yellows, and with a shift inorientation. Not the kind of quality usually valued by thetraditional jewelry trade. However, what was done by the craftsperson, the lapidary, transformed that piece of flawed material andmade it into a remarkable gem. The stone was cut to reveal achevron-like pattern when held up to the light. Getting that patternrequired the crafts person to use all their skill as the final stonewas quite thin and would be difficult to mount into a piece ofjewelry.
Thatgemstone is a constant reminder for me to look beyond the ordinary,the casual correctness of accepted standards, and to seek beauty inall its forms in the natural world and in human culture. Whether itis a leaf, a flower, a butterfly, or a man-made object, beauty is allaround us if we pause long enough to notice.
Thatis from only one chapter among eighty-eight. It is for each readerfind their own gems within this meditative book as they pursue theirjourney.
