Sitting in the Shade of the Tree of Unlearning
The traveler and the child were resting under a tree when the child asked, “What new insights have you come to lately?”
The traveler looked up at the child and paused a long time before answering. “It’s not so much that I’ve come to any new insights lately as it is I’ve learned to drop many of my previous beliefs.”
“Such as?”
“Such as this tree,” replied the traveler. “Remember when I told you that the tree’s greatest strength wasn’t it’s ability to bend with the wind but rather it’s ability to renew itself by dropping it’s seeds.”
“Yes.”
“Well, in my advancing age, I’ve even come to drop that belief.”
“What,” replied the child, “I think that reflects a great deal of wisdom. In fact, you just said how important it is to drop things.”
“Indeed, I did,” said the travel. “But as I sit under the tree I’ve come to a deeper level of understanding.”
“And what is this deeper understanding?”
“I’ve come to appreciate how the tree doesn’t judge anyone. It provides shade to all who sits under its branches. I need to strive to be as non-judgmental. I’ve also come to appreciate how the tree doesn’t concern itself with changing the other trees around itself, the weather or the broader world, it only changes itself. Like the tree, I must strive to change myself.”
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