The Tree of Life

The sage continues, “There is an ancient story that used to be told about the tree of life, until it was changed by jealous men who wanted to confuse and punish the masses. You see a long time ago there were people who lived by a simple code and they ate from the bounty of the earth without much thought of jealousy and separation. They walked always with their beloved throughout the world. The men of the clan would go about naming things that they called their own and the women of the clan would do the same. They consorted with all the animals and talked to them and named them. And in council it was decided what names would be used for different things and there was very little disagreement about the nature of things. Peace was had by all. Then one day there was discovered a massive tree that grew in the very center of their tribal lands. It was uncertain why it had never been noticed before. The entire world seemed to depend on this tree. The great rivers that they played in flowed from its roots. And the sky itself was suspended by its truck and branches. The men called it Father and the women called it Mother. A great fight ensued that lasted longer and was more terrible than any other fight that had ever occurred. So the men threatened to take away the sun, and the women threatened to take away the rain. And the Tree started to die. It was decided that no one should go to the tree. It was forbidden! And no one could eat the fruit anymore! And no one had the right to name the tree.


So the animals got together and decided to play a trick on the people. They convinced the men that women were sneaking to the tree on the full moon and the women that the men were sneaking to the tree on the full moon. So on the night of the full moon the animals climbed into the tree and waited for the men and the women to arrive. By this time the men and the women were very estranged from each other and hostile. They arrived at the same time and immediately started to accuse the other of sneaking to see the tree, of calling it their own, of naming the tree.

The animals in the tree waited till it almost seemed that the fight would get violent. And then they all started to shake and stamp. The fireflies lighted their tails. And the people fell silent for they had never heard the voice from the tree.

“Who dares to come to my tree and claim to own it. I am neither Father or Mother. I am neither yours or the worlds.”, cried the animals in a thunderous voice that came down from the highest branches of the tree.

The people fell to their knees in fright and shame. They were humbled by the supreme being that was communicating with them. They decided to share the tree, to not worry about ownership and who had the rights to the tree. Peace was restored.

This story used to be told by all the peoples of the world. Maybe someday it will be told again. He chuckled as he remembered the animals laughing with busted guts at the silly humans that fell for their sublime and ridiculous trick! The horses kneeed and the elephant roared with laughter. Even to this day the birds talk about this in their chatter! He chuckled again and again.