Spoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai
Hsin Dian, Formosa, July 21, 1987 (Originally in Chinese)

Plants Experience Sensations

An experiment was once conducted by some scientists, who measured the vibrations of the leaves and stems of plants before burning them, at which time it was discovered that the plants shook very violently out of fear. They also did another research study and discovered that whenever a kind-hearted person who loved plants approached places where trees and plants were grown, the trees and plants would appear to be very happy. However, when someone who disliked plants or had unkind thoughts entered those places, the plants would tremble violently, and generate resisting instead of welcoming vibrations. Scientists have experimented on both resisting and welcoming vibrations. Because of this research, they know that trees also experience sensations. That is why some people can grow trees and plants while some others cannot.

Now I'm going to tell you my own story. Since childhood I have liked trees and plants. Before I became a renunciate, our house had a huge garden. The lawn was green and the garden was filled with green plants. It was very beautiful and comfortable. I watered every day and took very good care of the plants. And I disliked it the most when someone would harm them. I got very upset, because I could feel their pain, and that would hurt me, too. I don't like that. We really shouldn't harm plants without any reason.

Love Creates Miracles

When I was in India searching for the Truth, I lived in an ashram, where there was a tree, the kind that grows in the desert. Its leaves were full of thorns. It had been chopped so badly that it could no longer grow any roots. Some plants will grow roots if we cut them a little below the leaves and then put them in some water. But if you cut above the leaves, the roots will not grow. At that time I felt sorry for that desert plant. It was very pretty and I thought it was such a pity. But other people didn't want to plant it because its roots would not grow and it wouldn't be able to revive. One fellow practitioner at the ashram said to me: "If you wish, why don't you take it back and have a try? You have the power." I said: "Okay. I'll give it a try." I planted it in the soil and it came back to life. It was alive all the time when I was there, even though it had no roots at all. It was able to come back to life! Seeing its new leaves grow, I knew it had come back to life with joy. Because each day I had been there meditating and reciting the Holy Names, it was affected and didn't feel anything bad, so it started to grow again.

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