Spirituality

What can we learn from trees?

च्छायामन्यस्य कुर्वन्ति तिष्ठन्ति स्वयमातपे । फलान्यापि परार्थाय वृक्षाः सत्पुरुषाः इव ॥

While standing under the sun, trees give shade to others. Same as trees, decent humans suffer hardships for other’s welfare. It’s impossible to imagine life on earth without the trees. Trees not only support life, but they teach us a lot. In this blog, we will explore what we can learn from the trees.

Embracing the Darkness:

 when the seed is buried under the ground, it faces the densest darkness. But soon, it accepts the darkness and starts to grow by absorbing the nutrients from the same soil which surrounds it into the darkness. In no time, it grows out of it, aiming to touch the sky.

Since the birth, the seed must be in the darkness, building an undefeated attitude, making it into a giant tree. Trees teach us that despite the humble beginnings and initial hardships, if one accepts life as it is, he can make something good out of it against all the odds.

Undefeated spirit: 

 From the deepest bottom of the Mariana trench to the heights of the Himalaya, trees grow to their highest potential, despite extreme weather conditions. We face several occasions in life where we have to stand tall, solitary. Many times, we urge ourselves to give up on our dreams, losing faith in ourselves. Trees tell us to gather courage, extract enthusiasm from the miseries, and keep growing, despite the worst conditions.

A green heart:

 Trees are a synonym for selflessness, being one of the greatest resources Mother Earth gifts us. They provide the air we breathe, they provide the food we eat, and they provide a roof on our heads. All we had to do was water them when they were small, and they serve you in every possible way.

Selfless service is one of the most extraordinary things a human can do.  We humans can learn a thing or two from these trees about selfless love and servitude. Without wishing for something in return, when a seeker starts serving others, his spiritual development begins.

Being in the moment:

 Trees enjoy every day every season. They want the sunshine, enjoy the cold showers in the monsoon, prepare themselves for snow by shedding their leaves, and even dance in the harshest of the winds. For someone who cannot move, they enjoy every moment.

Complications and hardships are part of life. However, that shouldn’t stop us from enjoying even the most minor things in our life.  When our mind is free from distractions, imagination, and worries, we experience the present moment. This can be achieved only by a pure mind. When we direct all of our concentration inwards, it takes us one step closer to eternal bliss, just like a tree sizzling in the rain.

Rooting deep in the grounds:

 Trees have robust root systems running deep into the grounds. They are responsible for the treetops touching the sky. If your belief systems and wisdom are as strong as the roots, no storm could shake you off the ground.

Trees with weak roots cannot sustain a storm, same as humans who cannot withstand hardships in life if their confidence and beliefs are not deep-rooted enough. Trees tell us that no matter how tall you become, if you constantly stay grounded, connected to your inner being, no tornado can uproot you.

Being still:

 You can see the trees dancing in the winds. But when there is no wind flowing, they keep still. During the fall season, they shed their green coat of leaves, standing still. Like a fall season every year, life has its ups and downs. And when we lack energy during our downtimes, we better stay still, meditating, reflecting, and relaxing, waiting for the right season.

Perfection is an illusion:

 In nature, everything is perfect, and everything is imperfect. Not one tree is similar to another, and yet, every tree is just perfect in its way. Trees teach us that chasing perfection is an illusion. There lies beauty in so-called imperfection, especially when there is an immense inner beauty hidden within you. Perfectionism creates unnecessary pressure on creativity and gives birth to unhealthy competition. It prevents you from expressing your true inner self when you are over-focused on perfecting something. Trees teach us to be the best of ourselves and not the perfect.

Letting it go:

 As fall appears, trees shed their leaves to conserve water and energy. While in the shedding process, trees absorb the nutrients from the leaves before they let them go. There is a lesson for all of us. We hold down to bad memories, grudges, bad habits, limiting beliefs, and toxic relationships. Like leaves in the snowfall, they drain energy from us.

As a tree sheds its leaves after absorbing all the nutrients, we should learn to shed these bad things, but only after absorbing lessons from them. It’s time to let it go; it’s time to grow new lush green leaves, a step towards a better future.

There is an excellent connection between spirituality and nature. Nature can be a great Guru if we are open to the lessons it teaches us every day. We hope you enjoyed reading the blog. Please feel free to write to us at info@chamundaswamiji.com for any queries.