〖树〗

我们可以从树学习到佛法。一棵树的诞生是有原因的，它顺著自然界的原则成长，直到它成长、含苞、开花然后结果。当下树正对我们演说著真理，可是我们却不能了解。我们所见的都只是花和果实的呈现，却不会将它带入心中然后加以思惟。因此，我们并不知道树在对我们说法。我们只会吃结出的果实，却没有思惟：甜、酸和咸，都只是果实的本质，这就是佛法。接下来，树叶老了、萎了，从树上谢落下来，我们见到的只是树叶的散落；我们只会踩过它们、扫除它们，从不会彻底的观照它们，所以都不知道自然正教导著我们。过些时候，新的叶芽又长出来了，我们也见著了，但并没有进一步地思惟。这不是透过内在反观所知的真理。

如果我们可以将它们引领到内心来观照，我们会忽然了解，树的诞生与我们自己诞生的道理其实没有什么差别。我们身体的出生与存在是依靠某些条件，它们是地、水、火、风。身体每一个部份都会依循它的本性而改变，这和树没有什么差别——头发、指甲、牙齿和皮肤都在改变。如果我们了解事物的本然，那么我们也将了解自己。

Trees

We can learn Dhamma from trees. A tree is born due to a cause and it, grows following the course of nature until it buds, flowers and bears fruit. Right here the tree is discoursing Dhamma to us, but we don't understand this. We're unable to bring it within and contemplate, so we don't know that the tree is teaching us without investigating: sweet, sour or bitter, it's the nature of the fruit. And this is Dhamma, the teaching of the fruit. Then the leaves grow old. They wither, die and fall from the tree. All we see is that the leaves have fallen down. We don't know that nature is teaching us. Later on, the new leaves sprout, and we merely see that, without taking it further. This is not the truth that is known through internal reflection.
If we can bring all this inward and investigate it, we will see that the birth of a tree and our own birth are no different. This body of ours is born and exists, dependent on conditions, on the elements of earth, water, wind and fire. Every part of the body changes according to its nature. It's no different from the tree. Hair, nails, teeth and skin, all change. If we know the things of nature, then we will know ourselves.