FROM THE SPIRITUAL TREE

There is a tree beside my house. I call it the 'Spiritual Tree'. I derive spiritual inspiration from it. A tree is an evergrowing being that was initially a seed possessing the potential of becoming a full-grown tree. A seed takes food from the universe around it and then grows into a tree. The same is true with spirituality, the desire for which is intrinsic to, and an integral part of, the very nature of every human being. To realize this spirituality, Man must derive spiritual food from the universe around him. A tree converts carbon-dioxide into oxygen; a spiritual person is one who can take positive lessons from negative situations. From this perspective, a tree is an embodiment of a spiritual personality. —Maulana Wahiduddin Khan

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GREENERY RETURNED

THE tree beside my house before the rainy season had completely dried up. It looked like it had come to the end of its life. It was probably not going to be green and lush again, but after the rainy season, it started to revive. Leaves began to appear on its branches and by the end of August, it had become completely green again. Its freshness had returned completely.

This story is symbolic for human beings. It is necessary for a person’s spiritual life to receive “water”. One who lives without “water”, will have a personality like a dried up tree.

For human life, divine inspiration is like life-giving water. Through it, man ought to establish an eternal bond with God. A bond of this kind will give him renewed freshness. If this bond is broken for any reason, he will become like a dried up tree.

Remembrance (Zikr) of God is the link to God Almighty. What does remembering God mean? It is not just the repetition of certain words. It is to remember Him again and again in different situations. For example if you see a tree, you will see the miracle of God in it. Your heart will say, ‘O God! The way you have made the tree green and fresh, so also in the same way make me like a green tree'.