THE DHARMA TREE 2

The dharma is the roots and the trunk is our knowing-mind. The branches and twigs are our sensings and our emotions; the leaves our thoughts. Whilst the tree relies on dharma sap to grow well, it can be affected by karmic and demonic winds. When these hit the leaves of thought or galefully push and play with the twigs of our emotions, we need to focus only on the trunk and dig our awareness deeply down into the roots to prevent confusion or wrongness affecting us.

I like to sit in my trunk and stay there - with only naturally arisen thought and emotion, not bending or swaying to the fancy of the karmic winds or demonic demands…

The battles of mara and karma swish away furiously at my leaves - so I sit in my trunk
To fight the battle would run me out of energy - you cannot prove truth or justice by fighting against lies or injustice - only by silently waiting and staying true within.

Safe below - inward go - stay and grow.
Danger outside - bashed and torn - all forlorn.

Stable and immobile am I, as raging gales my leaves destroy with animosity.
But I do not live in my leaves the way most people do - instead, I live inside, deep down - dharma touched - as Buddhism has taught me to. Secure as the storms rage outside.