-19- Listening to Trees and Stones Talking
~ By Buddhadāsa Bhikkhu ~
This may seem ridiculous to those who take it literally and do not understand the real meaning. What we mean is that, when we associate with trees or stones in solitude, new ideas or feelings can occur to us as though the trees and stones could talk to us.
So, in such an environment, if we listen carefully, we may hear the trees and stones tell us not to be so maniacal or foolish but to settle down in peace and tranquility. Have any of you ever heard trees and stones talk like this? Probably none of you have, because your minds are not so finely tuned to them. But if you walk among trees or stones and feel so ashamed as to talk to yourselves, ‘Oh, this place is very peaceful, but I am so perturbed,’ then you can consider yourselves capable of hearing the trees or stones talk to you. Or they may scold you for not knowing how to become peaceful and tranquil. But hardly anyone understands this. Many people think that trees and stones can talk in numerical terms; so they ask for the three-digit number that will win them an underground lottery. As these people go far off the right path, they do not get any benefit.
Think for yourselves and compare your thinking when you sit among trees or stones with that when you sit at home, in a crowded place, or in a community. When you are in a meeting, you have one kind of thought; but when you sit silently under a tree or on a stone, you have another kind of thought. The latter will be new to you and can be considered as what the tree or the stone says to you.
In conclusion, trees and stones tell us not to be so maniacal, but to become peaceful and to stay cool and calm. Yes, they tell us so. It will be very good if you have a thought like this while you are here, and you can consider yourselves as having heard the trees and stones talk to you. So go for a walk where there are trees and stones, then sit down wherever you find it cool and calm. Some thoughts will occur to you as though they were inspired or told by the trees and stones.
I myself have benefited from them. When I went to sit, stand, or walk among them in solitude, I got new ideas, which were different from what occurred to me when I sat at the desk in my room. So I often took an opportunity to go to sit among trees and stones, and when I got some unusual ideas, I immediately wrote them down to guard against forgetfulness. If I happened to have nothing to write on, I would write the topics that had occurred to me on the palm of my hand. Then when I went back to my hut, I would rewrite about the topics in full detail. Most of my prolifically published works originated this way. I can tell you that I got ideas from trees, stones, nature, ants and insects, soil, dry leaves, and even dogs’ excrements.
Therefore, try your best to make use of the talking of trees and stones.
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“24 Benefits of Suan Mokkh,” is a series of weekly posts published to commemorate the 88th anniversary of the foundation of Suan Mokkh in May 1932 in Chaiya, southern Thailand.
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For other Dhamma teachings by Buddhadāsa Bhikkhu (audios, free ebooks, interviews, poems), please visit Suan Mokkh – The Garden of Liberation.
Photograph from the Buddhadāsa Indapañño Archives collection (Ref. BW-07-073_038)