And each fruit contains the spiritual nourishment of Love, Compassion and Wisdom which remove the defilements of hatred, anger, envy, greed and ignorance.
OM MANI PADME HUM
When you can learn to be patient with the mind you will begin to understand what it can bring about. To have a mind which is filled with activities is to have a defiled mind which cannot realise the truth. To have such a mind and leave it be is to live in ignorance. Those who come are the fortunate ones because they will be given the chance to have an inkling of what mental bliss is when they begin to cultivate towards a peaceful state of mind.
If there is no love, there can be no calmness. Only the flow of love can do away with the negative thoughts such as hatred, anger, envy, greed and the like. When the aspirant begins to chant the Om Mani Padme Hum, he is in the process of planting the Mani seed into the Padma soil. Daily cultivation by righteous living and prayer chanting for the love of other beings will help this precious Seed to germinate, to shoot forth from the encasement of the ground, to face the world.
How this plant grows will depend mainly on the one who plants it. It is therefore the plant of the planter. The responsibility is his alone and he must see to the requirement of this young plant which he has grown, for it has become part of him, he has merged with the plant in spirit. When the plant grows taller, looks fresher or adds on new leaves, he will notice them. Noticing it represent the awareness, and the daily reciting of prayers is the love and affection that is given to this life. And as one begins to become a new being through the advent of the growth of the plant, he becomes totally committed to its well-being. This is like attending to the well-being of the self. A new inflow comes about, the marvel of growth and the joy of seeing to the well-being of this plant that one has planted represents his spiritual interests. Let the interest in self-cultivation continue for as long as you live, for the plant that you have brought into existence depends solely on you until the day arrives when it can grow on its own. And then you are free.
You have understood the nature of growth which is like spiritual attainment. But the tree too needs your care if you wish it to be a tree which is beneficent to other beings. Without selfishness and with great patience, you must continue to prune it, to remove the unwanted vegetations that creep upwards the trunk to rob it of its vital good and retard its growth. These are the negativities of life and these defilements must be removed in order for the tree to grow upright and healthy. With sufficient care, the tree will bear fruits for all, will provide shelter for other creatures, will give shade and protection to anyone who cares to seek them. This is the Bodhi tree that you must plant within your mind, within your self. This is the tree which you must bring forth which will be an example for others to see and to copy your way of tending to its growth. This is the kind of attitude, the kind of effort, that are required of you if you wish to grow up spiritually. It is not just to be able to grow up, it is more than just self-attainment; it is to be a tree which every being must be able to enjoy and appreciate and that will be the fruit of your labour. When this is possible, your life has not been wasted. You have understood, and you will then live not solely for your own well-being but more for the sake of others. And you will be the one who is responsible for your own growth!
Tuesday, 7th September 1982 (7th Moon 20th Day)