When I read this story of the half pomegranate it made my heart twist with deep love. 💔 the old woman represented much of what mainstream society hasn't time for, she is old and poor. She seems also out of the mainstream in that she didn't hear about the chance to give an offering till later when she had eaten half her pomegranate. Yet she came risking being late, with an urgency to give the only thing she had to give, what was left of her pomegranate. The Buddha recognized the enormity of her offering to him, hence receiving with both hands rather than one. The others before her had wealth and their offerings great but not everything, there was much more they left behind. This being symbolic of only giving part of their heart when the old woman gave with her whole heart.
On Oct 17, 2021 Jane wrote :