Trees Teach Detachment

Darshak Rana quotes the Buddha: “Attachment is the source of all suffering.”

Photo by author, July 30, 2021, Blue Hills

Yesterday was a very difficult day. My thoughts were whirling around in my mind of all my possessions I seemed not able to get rid of. At 88, although healthy, I do not know how much longer I will live, and I have no children or close ones that would benefit from them. I have at least 100 of my high quality fashion apparel. With no attachment to fame, I cannot donate them to museums. With no attachment to money and marketing, selling is too difficult for me. Yet, I feel attachment to those fashions — though I do not want to.

A friend took me for a ride in the Blue Hills, Massachusetts — where I took the above photo. Since my spiritual awakening in 1975, I have felt the spirituality in trees and they comfort me.

Today, I reflected back on a poem about a tree (5.30.80) in my poetry book. “My first perception outside looking in”.

“One morning in May — I stood and watched –

And absorbed one lonely tree — From a subway platform

First I dissected: The experience of the visual –

Is the play of light — Upon objects

The more we see — The object’s life -

The more — the play — Of light

Then I responded: Fulfillment of life –

Could be — From the observation — Of a tree

Suddenly the tree responded: Disappeared –

And in its place — A million dancing sparkles — Of sunlight.”

Drawing by author with poem

Thank you Darshak Rana, for prompt on Detachment/Attachment