A Tree Needs Earth, Fragrance Needs Earth, and the Heart Needs Rama
Uttara Kanda, Chaupai 88
Doha 91 · Movement 1 of 2
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Bhushundi unfolds another chain of indispensable conditions. Without contentment, desire does not end; while desire remains, happiness cannot appear even in dreams. Without Rama-bhajan, desire has no final remedy, just as a tree cannot grow without earth.
Equanimity does not arise without realized knowledge, as space cannot be found apart from sky. Dharma needs faith as fragrance needs earth. Spiritual radiance needs austerity as flavor needs water. Virtuous conduct grows through serving the wise, just as visible beauty depends upon light.
The mind cannot become steady without tasting its inherent happiness, any more than touch can exist without air. No attainment is possible without trust, and fear of samsara does not end without Hari-bhajan. Each image places sadhana inside the order of nature. Fruit cannot be forced while its ground is absent. The seeker must tend the living conditions from which transformation grows, then receive the flowering as grace rather than manufacture.
The tree cannot bargain with empty air for roots; it must enter the earth, as the heart must enter Rama.
Read the passage from the Manas
बिनु संतोष न काम नसाहीं। काम अछत सुख सपनेहुँ नाहीं।। राम भजन बिनु मिटहिं कि कामा। थल बिहीन तरु कबहुँ कि जामा।। बिनु बिग्यान कि समता आवइ। कोउ अवकास कि नभ बिनु पावइ।। श्रद्धा बिना धर्म नहिं होई। बिनु महि गंध कि पावइ कोई।। बिनु तप तेज कि कर बिस्तारा। जल बिनु रस कि होइ संसारा।। सील कि मिल बिनु बुध सेवकाई। जिमि बिनु तेज न रूप गोसाई।। निज सुख बिनु मन होइ कि थीरा। परस कि होइ बिहीन समीरा।। कवनिउ सिद्धि कि बिनु बिस्वासा। बिनु हरि भजन न भव भय नासा।।
Without santosh, desires cannot be destroyed. As long as desires remain, happiness is not possible even in dreams. Can desires be destroyed without Rama-bhajan? Can a tree ever grow without soil? Can equanimity come without vijnana? Can anyone find space without the sky? Without shraddha, dharma cannot arise. Can anyone perceive fragrance without earth? Can tejas spread without tapas? Can there be rasa in the world without water? Can sheela be attained without serving the wise? Just as there can be no beauty without radiance, O Lord. Can the mind become steady without its own inherent bliss? Can there be touch without air? What siddhi is possible without vishvasa? Without bhajan of Hari, the fear of samsara cannot be destroyed.