Today, Practice Turning People Into Trees
“When you go out into the woods and you look at trees, you see all these different trees.
And some of them are bent, and some of them are straight, and some of them are evergreens, and some of them are whatever.
And you look at the tree and you allow it.
You appreciate it.
You see why it is the way it is.
You sort of understand that it didn’t get enough light, and so it turned that way.
And you don’t get all emotional about it. You just allow it. You appreciate the tree.
The minute you get near humans, you lose all that.
And you are constantly saying “You’re too this, or I’m too this.”
That judging mind comes in.
And so I practice turning people into trees.
Which means appreciating them just the way they are.”
— Ram Dass
This was EXACTLY what I needed to hear this morning.
Maybe it’ll help you, too.
And if you want to take it further, do an experiment and apply this view to your life.
What happens when you look at people like trees?
When you accept and see people without wanting to change what you see.
What happens to how you interact with them?
How do you feel?
How do they feel?
Please share any experiences you want to in the comments.
I’d love to read about the trees in your life.
Squatchy
I kept thinking of this https://youtu.be/TwJaELXadKo
That is a great analogy though, I like the thought experiment, going to try it.
Laura
Squatchy…I’m cry 🤣🤣
Shelly
Laura you are using the laughing to tears emoji.
Steve
Yes, as I accept that person where they are it helps me be more accepting of where I am.
Jacquie
I love this comment/idea as well, it’s been helpful in the past. But today, Day 1 post-election, it’s hard. I know we all see things differently but I don’t understand how some people can care so little for others. It’s rough out there.
Bobbie
You are making a judgment that other people care so little. They may be as passionate as you are about helping others, maybe even making a bigger difference, but they believe in a different approach or philosophy. See and accept these people without judging, like the trees.
Meghan
I think this is such an important practice…letting go of wanting to control and just accepting. I’ve been working on this aggressively the past several months, particularly with my son. Accepting the childish behavior that triggers me and focusing on positive responses have been huge for both of us. It’s definitely healing.
Jamie Fellrath
Here’s a story that I’d love to share about this sort of thing. I have some friends who are VERY diametrically opposed to me, politically. But we both have autistic kids, and their little boy had to go to the hospital for fairly major surgery to correct a bone deformity in his femur (basically his knee was pointed out to the side instead of more-or-less straight ahead). My daughter and I went to visit the little dude in the hospital after his surgery. And that’s when you get the message that we’re all just people trying to do what we can in the world. Even a few days after an election, politics didn’t have to come up because we were all just parents going through a tough time with a kid (I’ve had a kid in the same hospital for a week, too). I asked my buddy (the boy’s dad) how HE was doing because he’s doing everything he can for his wife and son right now… he opened up and told me. It was pretty awesome, even if he’s not doing well right now. He got to express himself a bit and know that I was just listening and understanding.
This post popped into my head yesterday as we were chatting. They’re just friends, even though we don’t agree on everything. And they’re just people, with struggles and everything just like me.
Brett Nord
Jamie.. I really appreciate you taking the time to make that post.. such an important message for us all.
Robin
This was EXACTLY what I needed to read. For today and many days to come. There ar no coincidences. Thank you.