The Story of an Ashwattha Tree (Sacred Fig Tree)

 

The Story of an Ashwattha Tree (Sacred Fig Tree)

For ages and ages, a very ancient Ashwattha tree has been providing shade to everyone. No one knows when this tree was born. With the passage of time, this Ashwattha tree too began to forget its own glorious past.

Meanwhile, several parasitic plants (vines) began to grow on this tree. Gradually, these parasitic plants started growing bigger. They even began to deny the existence of their mother-like tree and started harboring hatred towards it. They began spreading all sorts of false propaganda against the ancient Ashwattha tree.

The parasitic plants started saying to the tree,
"You are a false tree. You have no existence. No one knows when you were born or who your creator was."

One parasitic plant boasted,
"Look! I was born five hundred years ago, and I know who my father was. But you know nothing!"

Another declared proudly,
"I was born a thousand years ago! Shame on you! You don't even know when you were born. Don't you feel embarrassed?"

Yet another parasite confidently said,
"Listen Ashwattha tree, you have no recorded birth date, no known parentage. Look at me — I was born fifteen hundred years ago, and all of it is documented! Do you have anything like that?"

Following the same tone, another parasite added,
"I was born two thousand years ago, so I am the most glorious. No one is greater or will ever be greater than me!"

Another parasite went even further,
"Do you know how ancient I am, Ashwattha tree? I was born three thousand years ago!"

Every day, the parasites growing on the body of the Ashwattha tree would insult it whenever they got the chance. Yet the ever-forgiving Ashwattha tree continued to love them even more, thinking perhaps one day they would realize their mistakes and correct themselves.

Though hurt deeply by their arrogance, the Ashwattha tree comforted itself,
"They are immature, that’s why they don’t understand. They were born from the nourishment of my body. Without me, not a single one of these parasites would have existed."

"They grew by consuming the food from my body, yet they curse me and question my very birth. These immature, ignorant parasites never stop to think that without my birth, their own birth would not have been possible."

Then, from its compassionate heart, the Ashwattha tree told them:
"Look my brothers, you were born on my body; you are like my children, and I am like your parent. Even though you are parasites, I acknowledge you as trees and address you as my brothers. Still, you disregard this brotherhood and show hostility towards me unnecessarily. But my brothers, what is the need for such hatred? You are trees, I am a tree — I am a true tree, and so are you. Every tree is true. As many trees as there are — that many truths exist. Let us all live together in unity and harmony."

However, the more the simple and motherly Ashwattha tree spoke of peace and unity, the more the parasites became furious. They kept on claiming their own supremacy while demeaning the motherly Ashwattha tree.

Deeply hurt by their behavior, the noble-hearted Ashwattha tree cried out to God:
"O Lord, you created me. I have been here from the beginning. By your will, these parasites were born on my body as part of your diverse creation. I have lovingly helped them grow, feeding them with my nourishment. Yet, even though they look like trees with branches, leaves, and flowers, by your will they cannot bear fruit. No creatures come to them for fruit, while my body bears fruit, and many birds and animals come to eat them.

"Perhaps this is another reason for their resentment towards me — because they cannot bear fruit. They spread their branches and leaves but cannot offer anything to living beings. Sometimes forest dwellers come and cut their branches to use as firewood. This too increases their anger towards me. Day and night, they curse me and try to harm me in every way, spreading lies that I am a false tree. But people do not believe them for long. Over time, when they realize the truth, they distance themselves from these parasites and hate them for their lies."

"Now their anger has grown so much that they are engaging in violent activities. O Lord, tell me what I should do now. You created me — please guide me."

While the Ashwattha tree was weeping in deep sorrow, a sage who was meditating under the tree — a sage who could understand the language of plants and vines — heard the tree's lament. The sage addressed the tree:
"O motherly Ashwattha tree, I have heard all your words. My heart is overwhelmed with sorrow. Mother, do not be sad. This is the way of the world — it often betrays its greatest benefactors. It is natural for these parasites to be angry with you. They see that even though they were born from a complete tree, they themselves have not become complete trees. Their anger towards you is therefore not surprising.

"But remember, you could have taken active steps — by praying to God or by your own efforts — to prevent their birth. For you have existed from time immemorial. You are not bound by any date or historical record like these parasites."

The Ashwattha tree wiped its tears and paid respects to the sage:
"O venerable sage! I know that it is because of my kindness, magnanimity, maternal love, and affection that these parasites have grown. I have not only treated them with love but also given them the status of trees. Though they are not complete trees, only parasites."

"But they mistake my affection and generosity for weakness. With their inherent and acquired qualities of pride and ignorance, they continue their misbehavior towards me. What should I do now? Please guide me."

The sage, possessing the quality of pure goodness (Sattva), told the Ashwattha tree:
"Mother, saints and sages should never harbor hatred towards anyone. They must view all beings with equal vision. But remember, scripture says — just as the virtuous must be respected, so too must the wicked be subdued. Although God creates the wicked to reveal the glory of truth, truth itself is religion, and religion is truth personified. No matter how loudly falsehood roars, falsehood can never and will never prevail."