Who can resist the radiance of a smile?

Or the sun’s rays?

Or the sun in a flower

or a flower in the sun?

Radiance is both round and rayed.

It is our sun: its presence, presentation and representation in the world.

Islamic art is full of centered circles with rays.

Radiance is basic to life.

It’s in the ceiling of this African house

and in this plant bursting through a crack in the concrete

but my favorite is the radiance of my daughter’s smile on Mother’s Day.

Seeing the small is called Clarity.
Keeping flexible is called Strength.
Using the shining Radiance,
You enter the Light,
Where no harm can come to you.
This is called Enlightenment.

Lao Tzu