Living on the Tree of Life

Leaves on a Tree of Life

As individuals, we are like single leaves on a great tree.

We live for one season only, but the tree lives on year after year and season after season.

We do not experience the entire life span of the tree, but we contribute to it.

We do not exist with the leaves from prior seasons, but we prosper from where they left off.

It is impossible for us to know how many leaves will come after us, but as long as the tree remains healthy, many more like us will follow ...

This figurative tree of life demonstrates how we exist in the context of forever.

Even after our season has passed, life will continue.

Humanity will produce more lives just like us for season upon season ...

Life endures, spreads, and ceaselessly continues.

Dr. Bill R. Path

Gustav Klimt - Tree of Life

The 'Tree of Life' metaphor has been used across different cultures and religions, as well as in other fields including art, science and philosophy. The common thread that weaves between the different cultures and theories is that the Tree of Life image connects us all through a message of unity.

The Tree of Life symbolises that all forms of life are interconnected. A clear message that is conveyed is that we as humans must respect and live in harmony with the planet and all forms of life inhabiting it.

For us to really thrive, as humans, we must all make a commitment to live consciously; with compassion, concern and a real commitment to respect and care for not only each other, but for the environment too.

In living life consciously and ethically, we live with a deep sense of meaning and purpose - this is good not only for our own welllbeing, but this life-choice also benefits the wellbeing of the wider community.

The journey of living consciously begins with a single moment of commitment, saying yes to the impulse within you that wants to grow, to expand, to embrace your largest possible self, to make your largest possible contribution to the world.

Gay Hendricks

The meaning of life is not to be discovered only after death in some hidden, mysterious realm; on the contrary, it can be found by eating the succulent fruit of the Tree of Life and by living in the here and now as fully and creatively as we can.
Paul Kurtz

Let me give you the definition of ethics: it is good to maintain life and to further life. It is bad to damage and destroy life. And this ethic, profound and universal, has the significance of a religion. It is religion.

Albert Schweitzer

Points to think about:

How 'green' is your lifestyle?
What steps are you taking to help the environment?
What more could you do?

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