To see a world in a grain of sand

To see a World in a Grain of Sand
And a Heaven in a Wild Flower,
Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand
And Eternity in an hour.

— William Blake

When I first came across these few lines a few years ago the effect was mind blowing. This is Zen. It also captures space-time and quantum mechanics.

There is an implicit reference to these lines in The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho, when as they are crossing the desert the alchemist tells Santiago ‘You don’t even have to understand the desert: all you have to do is contemplate a simple grain of sand, and you will see in it all the marvels of creation.’

Taken from ‘Auguries of Innocence’ by William Blake.

For my lovely friend Sian who was struck by the beauty and not knowing it was by Blake thought I was reading her Zen poetry.

Also see

The nature of reality

The Marriage of Heaven and Hell – William Blake

William Blake – God Is The Imagination – Gnostic

Tags: Blake, mysticism, Paulo Coelho, poetry, The Alchemist, William Blake, Zen