What Makes Trees The Greatest Karma Yogis? - Swami Tejomayananda (Chinmaya Mission.)

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Tuesday, July 26, 2022. 06:00.

What Makes Trees The Greatest Karma Yogis?

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Once, Sri Krishna was roaming in Vrindavan with his friends. It was a hot sunny day, and they took refuge under tall, shady trees. 

On seeing them do so, he said: 

“See these immensely fortunate trees. Their entire life is for the welfare of others. They face storms, rain, heat and cold, but protect us from all of them. Moreover, their birth as trees is most fortunate as they are the bestowers of life for all living beings” – 

Srimad Bhagavatam, 10.22.32.

Further, he pointed out that whoever comes to the trees, plants and creepers receives something or the other. The tired man rests his back under the shade of a tree. The tree also offers leaves and flowers for decoration and fruits to relieve hunger. Even the sap of a tree is mentioned here. The tree offers wood that serves as fuel and is also used for building houses. The leaves of the bhoja tree served as writing material.

The tree does not serve man alone. It offers a place for all – birds, squirrels, monkeys. It does all the work until the fruits appear and as soon as they do, the tree renounces them. Does a tree ever eat its own fruit? They are gifted to others in their entirety. 

In fact, the tree is the greatest Karma Yogi.

There is an anecdote about Raja Ranjit Singh sitting under a mango tree. Someone aimed a stone at the tree. The stone didn’t hit the fruit but landed on the crown of the king. The guards captured the culprit and brought him before the king. Trembling with fear, the man stammered that he had not done it intentionally.

To the astonishment of the guards, the wise king rewarded the man and released him. 

The king explained, 

“If the stone had hit the tree, it would have given its fruit to that person, right? It would not have refused the fruit because it had been hit. Further, it was not his intention to hit me. It was accidental. So, should my response be worse than that of a tree? When the tree, even after being hit, is ready to offer its fruit, why can’t I – a human being – do it?”

A Sanskrit slokam states: ‘A pond equals ten wells; a reservoir equals ten ponds; a son equals ten reservoirs; a tree equals ten sons!’ 

Krishn created an awareness about the role of trees, plants and cows. He protected Govardhan Mountain and purified River Yamuna. Today, there is a lot of discussion about ecology and environmental pollution, but Krishn demonstrated it through his actions.

This ‘on the move’ wisdom imparted while Krishna was roaming around with his friends concludes with an important message: 

The birth of embodied creatures in this world can be fulfilled only by constantly doing good to other embodied souls through their life, wealth, intellect and speech – 

Srimad Bhagavatam, 10.22.35.

The Divine guides us on how to make our lives successful in the true sense. For every human being, the success of life lies in what one can do with all the resources available for the welfare of one and all, as that is dharma. 

Such a dharma was depicted by Krishna throughout his life.

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