The Tree’s
Eloquent Silence
My spiritual tree gives me the best definition of spirituality: Live as a complex free soul, and you will find a complex free world to live in.
There is a full-grown tree in front of my house in New Delhi, under whose shade I am in the habit of sitting. I call it my spiritual tree. This tree is my teacher, although a silent one. The previous winter, this tree, like many other trees, shed its green leaves. Gradually, it became simply like dry wood.
I was doubtful whether it would ever turn green again. However, in the spring, the whole scenario changed. My spiritual tree again became a tree with lush green foliage. This rebirth of this tree was a great lesson. My spiritual tree turned into a speaking tree. It gave me a very important message: ‘O man! Do not be hopeless in any situation. After every dry season, there is a good harvest. After every spell of hopelessness, there is new hope; after every failure, there is a great success; after every night, there is a bright morning.’
My spiritual tree never left its allotted space. It never protested against anyone; it never demanded that others find new living leaves. Instead, it remained in the same place and started a new process. What was this process? This process was to get its food from beneath and from the sunlight. This strategy worked. The whole of nature came to its help, and after some months, it gained its lost greenery again. It is the lesson I learned from my spiritual tree.
No protest, complaint, demand, street activism, or stage activism: simply trust your natural abilities and work silently. Try to re-shape your destiny. Soon, you will be glad to discover that you have regained your life.
What is a tree? A tree is an illustration of nature. Nature tells us of its scheme through trees—that after every winter, a new spring will follow. What is needed is only to discover yourself, to discover your potential. Discover the opportunities around you, and then avail yourself of all these opportunities by silent planning.
My spiritual tree creates no noise, no problems, and no unwanted situations. These are the secrets of a green tree. This is also the secret of human life. Adopt the tree culture, and you will be a good member of your society, just like a tree which is a good ‘member’ of its garden.
Moreover, my spiritual tree has never asked me for anything. It has never sent any bills to my office. However, it gives me pleasant scenery, shade, green branches, fresh oxygen, flowers, etc. It also provides a perch for chirping birds, who give me much pleasure with their beautiful songs. This is the culture of my spiritual tree. It silently gives me a message: ‘O man! Adopt my culture, and you will become a fitting ornament of the garden of the universe.’
My spiritual tree gives me the best definition of spirituality. Live as a complex free soul, and you will find a complex free world to live in. Your destiny is in your hands. Never allow others to decide your destiny. Instead, utilise your opportunities, turn your potential into actuality, and soon you will find that you have no complaints to register against others.
To my way of thinking, every tree is an embodiment of spirituality. It is a silent lexicon of spirituality. Therefore, adopt the tree as your teacher. The tree is a good teacher who is available to every student. The only condition for learning from the tree is to be able to listen to non-verbal language.
