Instill the wisdom of plants into yourself.
Today we will learn the “power of giving” from the cacao tree.
When we think of cacao, we imagine chocolate. And who doesn’t love chocolate?
But, did you know cacao only grows in certain environments?
That environment has to meet each of the following requirements: It must be located between latitudes 20 north and 20 south. Elevation has to be between 30 and 300 meters above sea level. The average yearly temperature must be approximately 80 degrees Fahrenheit with a small temperature range, and the yearly precipitation must be at least over 1000 millimeters. Most other plants favor environments like this, so cacao trees are often surrounded by many other plants. Additionally, they can only grow in the shade of other trees, which adds to its long list of conditions. In such an environment, how does the cacao tree use insects for pollination and other animals to spread its seeds? It does so by using its “power of giving.”
Look at the tree itself. Most trees grow branches and sprout flowers at their ends, but the cacao tree sprouts many small, white flowers directly on its trunk. It may seem like they’re vulnerable, but they serve to pollinate any insect without needing them to crawl or fly to the tip of a branch. Additionally, their minuscule size allows even smaller insects to reach the stamen and pistils. In fact, even mosquitoes end up as unwitting allies in the cacao tree’s pollination process.
You might see fruit densely packed along the trunk depending on the time of year. The fruit is packed with caffeine and theobromine, which animals and humans both like. The animals carry the seeds of the fruit after eating it, thus helping the cacao tree to multiply. You could say humans are a prime example of how the cacao tree proliferates.
Delicate yet hardy, the cacao tree grows abundantly because it is accessible to, and freely provides a delicious bounty for, all creatures. In other words, it has the “power of giving.”
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Now, let us accept the cacao’s teaching. Let us receive its power of giving.
Close your eyes,
First, let’s unravel what it means “to give.” You might immediately imagine something a good samaritan would do, like volunteering or donating money or time, or perhaps someone who lacks arrogance. Let’s set aside those images for now.
I also want you to recall a moment where you gifted something to someone else. Imagine how much you enjoyed the act of giving.
For example, it could be:
a time where you gave water to a plant,
or a time when you cooked a meal for your family,
or a moment where you greeted your coworker,
or when you thanked that convenience store clerk from the bottom of your heart.
It may have been that time you smiled at someone else,
or did your household chores,
or did your work...
Do you understand now what it is to “give”?
It doesn’t always happen through grand gestures. We give in smaller ways, too.
You give of yourself every day throughout your daily routine.
In Buddhism, we have the words “wagen” and “aigo”. “Wagen” is the act of always keeping a gentle and congenial countenance, and “Aigo” is to say what you mean and mean what you say. In other words, they are the notion that the greatest thing a person can give is a cheerful greeting.
Next, I want you to imagine the person who would receive this charity from you, or how you’d want to give of yourself in the future. How would you approach that person starting tomorrow? Take the next 15 seconds to ponder this.
Lastly, I want you to remember a time in recent memory where you did something you didn’t want to do. It could be the laundry or a time-consuming job. How would you feel if I told you that you were “giving” of yourself with those actions? Take the next 15 seconds to analyze.
When you’re doing something you find annoying, “flipping the switch” in your mind to an attitude of “Fine, let’s give it all we got!” may take the edge off. The act of giving actually makes the giver happy. Life is about giving, and when you arrive at that state of being, your life will become even more bright and abundant.
Next time you eat chocolate, I encourage you to remember the “power of giving”. Recognize the small ways in which you contribute, and be grateful for your ability to give.
