"When you go out into the woods, and you look at trees, you see all these different trees. And some of them are bent, and some of them are straight, and some of them are evergreens, and some of them are whatever. And you look at the tree and you allow it. You see why it is the way it is. You sort of understand that it didn't get enough light, and so it turned that way. And you don't get all emotional about it. You just allow it. You appreciate the tree.
The minute you get near humans, you lose all that. And you are constantly saying 'You are too this, or I'm too this.' That judgment mind comes in. And so I practice turning people into trees. Which means appreciating them just the way they are." - Ram Dass.
This reminds me of a book 'The secret history of world' by Jonathan Black. Mr Black has has discussed the transformation from vegetable to animal life in a unique way.
ReplyDeleteWat een fijne post, ik ga dit stukje tekst uitprinten en in mijn agenda/dagboek plakken. Fijne zondag nog!
ReplyDeleteTurning people into trees. What a delightful concept. Thank you for that quote; I love it.
ReplyDeleteI imagine trees would naturally take a much longer view of existence. Slow and steady growth compared to humans who would appear as short-lived may flies to them. It would be nice if our species could take the long view of life, I think people would be happier in the long run.
ReplyDeleteI'd like to think I'm an oak tree! Interesting piece Marja.
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