Sacred Trees

Wisdom Teachings
Spiritual Nature

From the subtle to the gross, there is a gradual manifestation which the seers have recognized as a sevenfold manifestation. Just like the roots form the basis of the tree but are generally not visible, the intelligence that guides us is invisible, but it is expressed through our cerebro-spinal system. The principle of life, which pulsates within us, and the principle of consciousness form the basis for all our earthly existence.

The seed is the unmanifested tree. The tree is the manifested seed. A seer can already see the whole tree with all its details in the seed. Each of us is a seed and we sprout according to the awareness. In the seed of our mind exists the sum total of our experiences from the past incarnations. That which is not contained in the seed will not be able to manifest. Deeper inclinations are recorded by Saturn, so that we have a great program to keep moving in the same wheel of thoughts and actions.

In a fertile soil one does not need to plant a big tree; a tiny seed is enough. Inspiring messages are ever brief. One word is enough to inspire. An inspiration is a tender sprout within the tree of life; it can develop into a flower or a fruit.

The purpose of the plant is fulfilled when its flower has unfolded. The flower is totally different from the tree, but it comes from the tree itself. The taste of the fruits and their tenderness cannot be compared to the trunk from which the petals and fruits come. A Master is totally different from a man, but where did the Master come from? The man has the potential to create a beautiful body of light from within. When the unfoldment of the light happens from within, the purpose of man is fulfilled. This development takes place through the connection with the soul, which in turn connects with the spirit.

There are people who carry more light in themselves and are more developed than others. There are also gradations among stones, metals and trees. Gemstones or gold have a higher consciousness than other stones or metals. Similarly, certain trees carry more fire than other trees. They are more developed and are called holy trees. The seers of the ancient times have verified the quality of these trees and have found them to be extremely useful. Any ritual done with the wood of the holy trees spreads harmony and has a great impact on the people involved in the ritual. Sacred trees contain fire that is superior in quality to the fire generated from petrol, gasoline, etc., which is generated with the help of the mineral kingdom. We should ensure that the sticks are dry and that a tree is not cut for the sake of the fuel. If possible, we should just collect the fallen branches and stems.

It is important to collect sacred sticks and herbs relating to the different Devas. Various substances of the plant kingdom have been prepared on the subtle planes from other planets; they can be traced to their planetary, solar and cosmic energies. The collection of the sticks and herbs for the fire ritual has such background work. The resulting smoke from such fire ritual has a healing impact. When we look into the flame, the energies rise.

Embracing a holy tree is like embracing a Master of Wisdom; he too, is an embodiment of fire. Meditating under the shade of holy trees has a strong effect; water in which the roots of these trees are soaked also has a great healing effect. This effect is recognized through time. When we worship a tree as God, the tree reacts to us as God. Some embrace it, some touch it carefully either by their fingers or the palm. It is about receiving the touch of fire through the fiery medium. Most embraced are the Himalayan cedar tree (Devadaru tree) and the Silk Cotton tree (Buraga tree), as well as the Ficus Religiosa (Peepal, Aswatha, Ravi or Bodhi tree), Ficus Indiaca (Banyan tree) and Ficus Racemosa (Audumbara tree, Atti, Cluster Fig tree). Trees in general and the sacred trees in particular are in constant contact with the rays of the sun throughout the day. They imbibe into them the life and light from the sunrays in abundance. Different parts of these trees are also used as medicine. It is an age-old practice to touch these sacred trees, to meditate under their shade, to eat the fruits and leaves fallen from such trees, and to drink and bathe in the water of a nearby river.

The Peepal tree and the Audumbara tree are especially sacred trees and they release oxygen all 24 hours of the day. Many sublime beings normally live on them in subtle form in meditation. When we meditate in the shadow of these trees, the tree and the beings on it bless us and we are charged with the right vibration in meditation. Meditation in a standing, upright posture under a sacred tree gives a different perception. The civilized man is strongly recommended to relate to a tree if possible.

High-rise trees like the Devadaru (the Himalayan cedar) are considered as temples made by Devas. All coniferous trees like the pine have the ability to collect vital force (prana) and bring down the energies needed to elevate our consciousness. They function as a bridge between the heaven and the depths of the earth. Many people attained initiations while meditating under sacred trees. These trees grow in sacred places even without our cultivating. We can perceive the energy of a place if we stay there with our eyes closed and experience the silence.

At the cave temples in Shigatse, there is a huge Ficus Religiosa tree that shines like a golden tree during the dawn hours and like a diamond tree during the full moon hours. This tree still exists today. It is visible to those who have attained the golden body. For others it is invisible. In the respective local dawn and dusk hours we can receive the energies coming to us from the World Teacher, Lord Maitreya. While singing the Maitreya Song we should visualise the Master standing under this big tree with his arms stretched to all, ready to transmit the energies of love through his heart and hands to all sincere seeking beings.

The Audumbara tree is a very sacred Indian fig tree (Ficus Racemosa). It is said to carry the Jupiterian vibration, the Guru vibration, which causes expansion of consciousness. Lord Dattatreya likes the Audumbara tree very much; he promised that he would live at the foot of each Audumbara tree in a subtle form.

The Rudraksha tree carries the very beneficial electrical vibrations of Rudra. They destroy the darkness and build a field of light around us through their vibrations. They generate a lot of energy and they should be watered daily in the morning with fresh water to keep the energies in us and in our environment in balance. Many people wear Rudraksha chains, offer water to the Rudraksha seed and sing 3 to 11 times Rudra mantras like OM NAMO BHAGAVATE RUDRAYA or YO RUDRO… Everything is optional and there should be no compulsion. When we travel, we can keep the Rudrakshas in a small box.

The leaves and roots of the Sami tree help to correctly arrange the Saturnian boundaries within us to a certain measure and help with our growth. We can utter the mantra SAM, especially on Saturdays (see the book on “Saturn” by Dr. K. Parvathi Kumar).

Pure sandalwood brings about a pleasant unfoldment of the soul; it helps to keep the atmosphere pure and to strengthen the will. The fragrance of sandalwood is nothing other than the manifestation of the Divine Mother on the dense physical plane. When a sublime being visits us, we can perceive the fragrance of sandal before the visit, even without the use of incense. Some subtle beings also convey their presence through the fragrance of rose, jasmine or lavender. Sandalwood strengthens the Will and dispels obstacles. Thus, the eye of the mind becomes more open to the divine than to other things. A student can apply some sandalwood paste on his forehead or a round dot on his brow centre.

It is said that the Banyan tree contains the energy of the first ray of Will and the Ficus Religiosa contains the energy of the second ray of Love/Wisdom. Both trees contain strong spiritual vibrations. With their strong fire they can even grow on concrete roofs. Therefore, one should meditate under such trees to strengthen the Will. This is an easy way to enter the state of meditation. The seed of Banyan is small, but out of its aerial roots the largest independent tree in the world can emerge.

Like the Sami tree, the Banyan contains the vibration of Saturn, but also the energies of the first Logos. The Ficus Religiosa gives us the energy of the second Logos, the energy of synthesis. Many other sacred trees cannot be mentioned here.

Sources used: K.P. Kumar: Agni – The Symbolism and the Ritual of Fire. Notes from seminars. The World Teacher Trust - Dhanishta, Visakhapatnam, India