Why are Saints Compared to Birch Tree?
Question
Jagadguruttam Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj often draws a comparison between the nature of God-realized saints and a birch tree. What is the similarity between these two?
Answer: The Ramayan says
Jagadguruttam Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj often draws a comparison between the nature of God-realized saints and a birch tree. What is the similarity between these two?
Answer: The Ramayan says
भुर्ज तरु सम संत कृपाला । पर हित सह नित विपति विशाला ॥
bhurj taru sam sant krpaala . par hit sah nit vipati vishaala
bhurj taru sam sant krpaala . par hit sah nit vipati vishaala
Birch tree keeps serving others with its bark till its trunk is totally consumed. Similarly a saint keeps bestowing grace till the last moment of his life
Saints are compared to a Birch tree (Betula utilis) due to their nature of compassion and benevolence. The trunk of a birch tree is made of multiple layers of bark. If one keeps peeling away the layers of the bark, the tree would die, yet the tree does not object to anyone removing its layers. Instead it willingly gives up the layers of bark till there is none left.
All living beings desire for that happiness, which is ever lasting, ever increasing and ever new. Scriptures tell us that since beginningless time, all karma of all jeev have been motivated by the sole desire to attain that happiness [1]. The moment an individual soul attains that bliss, it remains forever absorbed in that bliss and there would be no need for that soul to ever perform any actions.
If this is so, then after attaining God realization, the saints should not perform any actions. Yet, we see God-realized saints tirelessly performing actions and working hard just like us material beings.
Let us understand this with an example
All living beings desire for that happiness, which is ever lasting, ever increasing and ever new. Scriptures tell us that since beginningless time, all karma of all jeev have been motivated by the sole desire to attain that happiness [1]. The moment an individual soul attains that bliss, it remains forever absorbed in that bliss and there would be no need for that soul to ever perform any actions.
If this is so, then after attaining God realization, the saints should not perform any actions. Yet, we see God-realized saints tirelessly performing actions and working hard just like us material beings.
Let us understand this with an example
When an empty pitcher is lowered into the river to collect water, it makes loud bubbling sounds. As the pitcher fills up, the sound becomes more grave and reduces in intensity. Once the pitcher is full, the sound dies down completely.
In much the same manner, there is a frenzy of activity when the soul is looking for happiness. After attaining that happiness, the individual soul ceases to perform all actions and just enjoys unlimited divine bliss from then on [2].
However, after attaining God realization, Saints still descend on earth and perform actions for the benefit of others. Understand this with an example: For example, when butter is heated it makes bubbling sound. As it gets heated the suspended milk particles separate from the fat and the sound dampens. When all the fat is separated from the milk particles then it makes no sound. This fat is called ‘Ghee’ or clarified butter.
However, after attaining God realization, Saints still descend on earth and perform actions for the benefit of others. Understand this with an example: For example, when butter is heated it makes bubbling sound. As it gets heated the suspended milk particles separate from the fat and the sound dampens. When all the fat is separated from the milk particles then it makes no sound. This fat is called ‘Ghee’ or clarified butter.
The heart of saints is softer than butter. Butter melts when heated, but the heart of a saint melts seeing the agonies of others. Saints are overcome with compassion for those who ignorantly search for happiness in the material world and as a result get further entangled in the material world. They expend tireless efforts in bestowing the 'true knowledge of the self', 'the nature of the world', explaining 'what do we really want in life' and 'how will we get it', on individual souls.
No amount of heat makes the oil sizzle. It sizzles only when a raw roti is put in it.
The teachings of saints sound completely different from other prevalent philosophies, hence most material beings don’t recognize a saint and ridicule them, insult them and sometimes even torture them. But due to their kind and compassionate nature, Saints accept all such atrocities and continue to impart love and grace on material beings. All renowned saints like Tulsidas, Meera, Kabir, Tukaram, Raidas have suffered at the hands of material beings, yet they did not give up their nature of benevolence [3].
During the time of Mahaprabhu Chaitanya, there was a Muslim devotee of Shri Radha Krishna. His name was Haridas. His devotion was so pure and strong that he was highly revered by the inhabitants of that city. Some selfish and demonic people could not tolerate his popularity. They started spreading false stories about him, accusing him to be an infidel and offender of Islam Dharma. Although, the king was a very kind man, yet he was compelled to take action against Haridas due to numerous complaints against him. The kings soldiers mercilessly tortured Haridas. Eventually he fainted. The soldiers considered him to be dead. Instead of performing last rites with due respect they drew him in ditch.
Haridas was tortured by the kings soldiers
Yet, when Haridas regained consciousness he prayed to God, please "These ignorantly beings don't know what they are doing. If You love me and can hear my prayers, please grant them wisdom.".
Similar, concern and graciousness uplifted the dreaded dacoit Ratnakar, who later became the famous Brahmarshi Balmiki.
Ratnakar used to kill innocent travelers before looting them of their possessions. Once saint Narad was going through the same forest where Ratnakar used to operate his terror activities. Ratnakar tried to kill and rob Saint Narad. Saint Narad asked him a simple question.
Similar, concern and graciousness uplifted the dreaded dacoit Ratnakar, who later became the famous Brahmarshi Balmiki.
Ratnakar used to kill innocent travelers before looting them of their possessions. Once saint Narad was going through the same forest where Ratnakar used to operate his terror activities. Ratnakar tried to kill and rob Saint Narad. Saint Narad asked him a simple question.
Ratnakar attacking Saint Narad
He said, "why do you commit these sins?”
Ratnakar replied, “to look after my family.”
NaradJi asked, “Would they share the results of your sins with you?”
Ratnakar confidently replied, “They sure would”. Narad Ji suggested that he go and ask his family.
Ratnakar said, “You are very clever Baba ji. You want me to go and check with my family, so that you can run away while I am gone.”
Narad Ji said “no. believe me I have no intention of running away. However, for your own satisfaction, you can tie me to this tree, while you are gone”.
See the height of compassion of a saint ! To deliver a sinner Jeev, a Saint is willing to be tied up with ropes!!
After tying saint Narad, Ratnakar went back home and posed that question to every member of his family and was shocked to hear their responses. None of them were willing to partake in his share of sins. Ratnakar was saddened and hugely disappointed. He went back to see Saint Narad Ji and surrendered himself unto him and started practicing devotion under his guidance. The same Ratnakar later came to be known as Rishi Balmiki in the same lifetime.
This is the characteristic of a saint. Saint does not care for his own well-being, rather continues to work tirelessly for the welfare of others [4].
Saint Ved Vyas ji says:
Ratnakar replied, “to look after my family.”
NaradJi asked, “Would they share the results of your sins with you?”
Ratnakar confidently replied, “They sure would”. Narad Ji suggested that he go and ask his family.
Ratnakar said, “You are very clever Baba ji. You want me to go and check with my family, so that you can run away while I am gone.”
Narad Ji said “no. believe me I have no intention of running away. However, for your own satisfaction, you can tie me to this tree, while you are gone”.
See the height of compassion of a saint ! To deliver a sinner Jeev, a Saint is willing to be tied up with ropes!!
After tying saint Narad, Ratnakar went back home and posed that question to every member of his family and was shocked to hear their responses. None of them were willing to partake in his share of sins. Ratnakar was saddened and hugely disappointed. He went back to see Saint Narad Ji and surrendered himself unto him and started practicing devotion under his guidance. The same Ratnakar later came to be known as Rishi Balmiki in the same lifetime.
This is the characteristic of a saint. Saint does not care for his own well-being, rather continues to work tirelessly for the welfare of others [4].
Saint Ved Vyas ji says:
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एके सत्पुरुषाः परार्थ घटकाः स्वार्थान् परित्यज्य ये,
सामान्यास्तु परार्थमुद्यमभृतः स्वार्थाविरोधेन ये । तेऽमी मानुष राक्षसाः पर हितं स्वार्थाय निघ्नन्ति ये, ये तु घ्नन्ति निरर्थकं परहितं, ते के न जानीमहे ॥ सूक्ति |
eke satpurushaah paraarth ghatakaah svaarthaan parityajy ye,
saamaanyaastu paraarthamudyamabhrtah svaarthaavirodhen ye . temee maanush raakshasaah par hitan svaarthaay nighnanti ye, ye tu ghnanti nirarthakan parahitan, te ke na jaaneemahe . -sookti |
This verse describes the characteristics of good people [5] and bad people in the order of their characteristics
1. satpurushaah (सत्पुरुषाः) - the highest class of people are those, who work for the well-being of others, disregarding their own needs.
2. saamaanyaah (सामान्याः) - Next and ordinary are those who work for the well-being of others, after protecting their own self-interest.
3. maanush raakshasaah (मानुष राक्षसाः) - the third kind are those who inflict pain on others for their own benefit. Ved Vyas Ji says that such people are personified demons in the form of human beings.
4. te ke na jaaneemahe (ते के न जानीमहे): I have no words to describe those, who torture others without any reason at all.
So, those saints, who live for the welfare of others, ignoring the pains caused by others, are compared with the tree of Birch. History tells us that saints were abused, beaten, poisoned, thrown down from a mountain as even bitten by snakes. Yet they did not give up their mission of working for the welfare of the ignorant beings.
1. satpurushaah (सत्पुरुषाः) - the highest class of people are those, who work for the well-being of others, disregarding their own needs.
2. saamaanyaah (सामान्याः) - Next and ordinary are those who work for the well-being of others, after protecting their own self-interest.
3. maanush raakshasaah (मानुष राक्षसाः) - the third kind are those who inflict pain on others for their own benefit. Ved Vyas Ji says that such people are personified demons in the form of human beings.
4. te ke na jaaneemahe (ते के न जानीमहे): I have no words to describe those, who torture others without any reason at all.
So, those saints, who live for the welfare of others, ignoring the pains caused by others, are compared with the tree of Birch. History tells us that saints were abused, beaten, poisoned, thrown down from a mountain as even bitten by snakes. Yet they did not give up their mission of working for the welfare of the ignorant beings.
संत न छोडैैं संतई केतिक मिलहिं असंत । चन्दन विष व्यापत नहीं, लिपटे रहत भुजङ्ग ॥
sant na chhodaiain santee ketik milahin asant . chandan vish vyaapat nahin, lipate rahat bhujang
sant na chhodaiain santee ketik milahin asant . chandan vish vyaapat nahin, lipate rahat bhujang
"Snakes cling on the sandalwood tree yet the tree remains unaffected from their poison. Likewise no matter how many vicious people live around the saints, they do not deviate from their sublime mission of delivering people from the ocean of miseries."
