THE LEGEND OF GREAT TREE (The Tree of Life)

Once upon a time at the summit of a beautiful island stood a Great Tree. This tree was like no other tree. It was the oldest and greatest tree there was. Its branches covered the entire island while its roots spread throughout the land. It was not only alive but sentient! And it ruled over the island with perfect love and justice.  On the island were numerous creatures who lived and worked joyfully under the care of the Great Tree.

However, at the very edge of the island where the roots of the Great Tree ended, the land seemed to be crumbly and eroded. Great swirls of dust surrounded the edges of the island. It seemed the dust desperately tried to come together to form land but fell apart again because the roots of the Great Tree did not extend there. 

One day, the creatures who lived closest to the edge, wishing to expand their realm appealed to the Great Tree to create more land. And the Great Tree kindly agreed.

So, the Great Tree did what had never been done in all time. In a most beautiful motion, the Great tree dropped a single pearly seed at the farthest reaches of the island. The beautiful seed fell into the soil, germinated and shot out roots for indescribable distances into the great swirls of dust. The living roots wrapped around the dust, bringing it together and formed vast areas of land. More land than anyone could ever imagine! The seed grew into a majestic tree called the Root Tree. It was also a sentient Tree.

The creatures joyfully thanked the Great Tree and began to spread throughout the new land, all the way to its farthest reaches. For many years the creatures lived and worked on the new land as they did before. But as time passed, they began to forget about the Great Tree. They were so far away that they could no longer see the Great Tree. They could no longer smell its beautiful fragrance or even feel the coolness of its shade. Eventually, they forgot all about the justice and love with which the Great Tree ruled over them.

They started to abuse each other. Worse still they started to abuse their environment. They built factories that spewed poisons into the atmosphere and took up practices that caused all of their forests to die and streams to dry up. Soon the people were dying of thirst and burning up in the sun. Some rose amongst them claiming to be rain makers. They deceived the others with false prophecies and gospels. But they were only interested in gaining power and influence over them. They could not make a single drop of rain. The desperation grew until a few people finally turned away from the false prophets and remembered the Great Tree. These few prayed to the Great Tree and begged for help. Again, the Great Tree kindly agreed.

And for the second time, the Great Tree did what had only ever happened once before in all Time. In a most beautiful motion, the Great tree dropped a single pearly seed a great distance away but this time, not at the farthest reaches of the island. The beautiful seed fell to the into the soil, germinated, grew into a majestic tree and shot out branches that reached to the very ends of the new land. The branches were covered with the most beautiful foliage that gave not only shade but water to all that took shelter under them. This tree was called the Branch Tree. Again, it was a sentient tree.

When the people saw the branches above them, they rejoiced for they were saved. Those who had prayed to the Great Tree rejoiced saying “The Great Tree has come to us! These are the Branches of the Great Tree!”. And many began to turn away from the so-called rain makers and remember the Great Tree. Those who did not remember sat at the feet of others to learn. The so-called rain makers were losing their power and influence over the people. They did not like that at all.

Having heard people say these were the Branches of the Great Tree, they devised a wicked plan to accuse the Branches of blasphemy. They, pretending to be true lovers of the Great Tree, would convince the people that the Branches had committed a terrible deception by claiming to be the Great Tree. And once the people believed them, they would cut down the branches and cast them into fire, thereby getting rid of them once and for all. They set about their plan with all zeal.

There was one who lived amongst the people who was called the Chronicler. It was his task to record all events that occurred in Time. Hearing the accusations, he approached the Branches

Chronicler:  Who are you?

Branch Tree: I am Branch Tree

Chronicler:  Are you the Great Tree?

Branch Tree: No, I am OF the Great Tree

Chronicler: So are you the Branches of the Great Tree

Branch Tree: No. I am OF the Great Tree

Chronicler: oh! You are FROM the Great Tree? A messenger?

Branch Tree: Yes, I was sent here by the Great Tree ……but I am OF the Great Tree

Chronicler: If you are not the Branches of the Great Tree and you are a separate Tree, how then can you be of the Great Tree?!

Branch Tree: All that I am is OF the Great Tree. There is not a single atom in me that is different from the Great Tree. ALL OF ME IS FROM THE GREAT TREE. If you see me, you see the Great Tree.

The Chronicler thought about this for a few minutes. Then he said

Chronicler: I think I understand! You are the Son of the Great Tree!

Branch Tree: You may say so.

Then the Branch Tree asked of the Chronicler

Branch Tree: Do you have a child?

Chronicler: Indeed, I do. I have a son.

Branch Tree: Is your son exactly like you? Is every single atom in him, exactly the same as you?

Chronicler: Hmm, No. After all he has a mother. So, I have to say no.

Branch Tree: So, you see, I am not a son in the same way as your son because every single part of me is of the Great Tree. But you can call me The Son if it is easier for you that way.

The Chronicler wrote all this down faithfully. The he remembered that there was also one called the Root Tree. So, he asked.

Chronicler: What about the Root Tree?

Branch Tree: The Root Tree is also Of the Great Tree

Chronicler: So, the Root Tree is just like you

Branch Tree: We are only different in the purpose that we serve.

As the Chronicler recorded the conversation, a great throng came, led by the evil rain makers and without further ado, chopped down the Branches and cast them into a fire.

The Chronicler was aghast with horror! But the people, drunk with evil ran off rejoicing and praising their false prophets.

Without the shade, the streams which had been restored by the Branches almost immediately dried up and the sun began to burn up all of the crops. The people realizing their mistake began to call out again to the Great Tree but this time, nothing happened. Afraid that the masses would visit their disappointment upon them, the false prophets who had led them astray devised another plan. This time, they told the people that the Great Tree had sent the Branches to them to be sacrificed. They claimed that this was the reason for chopping them down and burning them. They lied and said that the fire had been a sacrifice to the Great Tree. They told the people to expect much rain and blessing from the Great Tree in the near future. Again, the people foolishly believed the lie and set to wringing their hands and offering up empty prayers to the Great Tree while they waited for their reward.

Three days later, the Chronicler travelled to a nearby country.  Upon his arrival, he was astonished to see none other than the Branches above the country! The country was beautiful, green and fertile. The Chronicler asked.

Chronicler: Branch Tree! Is it really you?

Branch Tree: Yes, it is I.

Chronicler: You are alive!

Branch Tree: Yes, I am for I am eternal.

Chronicler: So you grew back immediately. Will you cover my land again? 

Branch Tree: No

Chronicler (sadly): I understand. It is because they wronged you.

Branch Tree: No, it is because they did not want it. I go where I am needed and wanted.

Chronicler: You said that the you and the Root Tree are the same right?

Branch Tree: Yes

Chronicler: It said that no one can wrong the Root Tree and go unpunished yet those people chopped down your Branches and they have not been destroyed. How is that so?

Branch Tree: Because the Root Tree creates the very world upon which you stand. If you destroy the roots, the land will crumble to dust and you will die. Your entire world only exists because of the Root Tree. That is why it said that no wrongs committed against the Root Tree can go unpunished.

Again, the chronicler faithfully recorded all that he was told.