Dirt

In Tibet, one famous yogi had lived for years practicing ardently in a mountain hut, supported by the villagers below. Then, one festival day, he heard that all his supporters were going to visit him. The yogi carefully swept his hut, polished the offerings bowls on the altar, made a special offering and cleaned his robes. Then, he sat back and waited but an unease came over him. Who was he trying to be? Finally, he got up, scooped up several handfuls of dirt and threw them back onto the altar. Those handfuls of dirt were said to be his highest spiritual offering.

Jack Kornfield