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
POSITIVITY: THE FERTILE GROUND FOR GOD-REALIZATION
FOR a plant to grow, fertile land is essential. Only on fertile land will it be possible for a plant to grow into a green tree. Such a development cannot take place on barren land. For a tree to grow, fertile land is indispensable. Fertile land is favourable for the plant while barren land is totally unproductive.
The same is true of ma’rifah, or discovery of God (God-realization). Ma’rifah can take place only in such a seeker who has a noble personality. One who is not such a seeker cannot attain to ma’rifah. He has to have a positive personality. Conversely, an unfavourable personality may be described as a negative personality. One who desires that the orchard of ma’rifah should grow within him must turn himself into a positive personality, whatever the cost.
A man with a negative personality is one who is of a reactionary disposition. He succumbs to the influence of his environment. Because of his immature consciousness, he is unable to rise above external circumstances. He cannot form his opinions uninfluenced by external pressures. He will always look at the negative aspects of events.
One who desires that the orchard of ma’rifah should grow within him must turn himself into a positive personality, whatever the cost.
By the grace of God, one endowed with a positive personality finds the opportunity to think along the right lines, and continues to attain God-realization so that the process of building a spiritual personality is ever ongoing. The attainment of God-realization is possible only on the fertile soil of a positive personality.