Four Trees Video

The Four Trees Video

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We are delighted that Dhamma Tāpasā generously dedicated his valuable time to provide a voiceover for the video and story of ‘The Four Trees,’ our most cherished moral tale to date

From the stories we write to the mindfulness techniques we share, we believe in doing things right, always with kindness and compassion as our guide.

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Four Trees Story Transcript

Once upon a time in a land not too far away, four trees start to grow on top of a small hill.

The first three trees are full of self importance, arrogant and proud. They are always boasting about how big and tall and handsome they will become. They spend their days striving to be the tallest, the strongest and taunt each other about how important they are, and how they will live forever.

The fourth tree, nestled in the shade of the other three, is not as tall, or as handsome but is all happy and content, just to be a tree.

As time passes the three proud and selfish trees grow taller and taller, stretching their branches ever upwards, striving to be the highest, the strongest, the best. They spend their days growing and boasting  about how wonderful they will be. 

The fourth tree listens to their talk and smiles to himself. All happy and content, just to be a tree.

Many many years pass by and the three trees have grown straight and tall, strong and handsome but they have also grown ever more arrogant, selfish and proud, boasting and teasing constantly about how they are the best tree and how they will surely now live forever.

The fourth tree isn’t the best looking or the tallest but is all happy and content, just to be a tree.

One day a woodcutter comes along and gazes with admiration at the three handsome trees. These trees will be perfect, he thinks to himself, and quickly and cuts them down to the ground.

The first tree is made into the City Gates. Look at me he thinks to himself. I am the first thing anyone sees as they arrive at the city. I am so strong I can protect the city dwellers from their enemies. Surely I am the most important tree and I’ll be here forever and ever. 

The second tree is made into a great warship. Look at me he thinks to himself. I travel all over the  world and protect my people from both the stormy seas and their enemies. Surely I am the most important tree and I’ll be here for ever and ever. 

The third tree is made into a great place of worship. Look at me he thinks to himself. When ever the people want to pray, I am the one that protects them. I am their sanctuary. Surely I am the most important tree and I’ll be here for ever and ever. 

A great army comes to attack.  The City Gates try to hold them back but are are destroyed. The great Warship battles valiantly but is sunk in the harbour and the Great Place of Worship opens its doors to its people but is burnt to the ground.

Only the fourth tree survives, growing on top of the small hill all happy and content, just to be a tree.

Many more years pass and the fourth tree knows that it can not live forever the day must come when it too will pass away. Its branches start to crack and fall to the ground and to be gathered up for firewood.

But our fourth tree is not sad. It remembers all of the seeds that it has shaken to the ground, over the years and looks around at four little trees that are growing on that hill. 

All happy and content, just to be a tree. 

Moral of the Story

True greatness lies not in the pursuit of self-importance and pride, but in the humility to embrace one’s unique place in the world, the wisdom to appreciate life’s simple joys, and the kindness to leave a legacy of positive influence. Lets all learn how to live happy and content just to be

Author: Dhamma Tapasa* (Andrew Hallas)

Reflections

The Four Trees” is a thought-provoking moral story with several valuable reflections to consider:

• The Pitfalls of Arrogance: The first three trees symbolise arrogance and self-importance. They focus on outdoing each other and boast about their greatness. This behaviour ultimately leads to their downfall. The story underscores the negative consequences of arrogance and how it can blind us to our vulnerabilities.
• The Fragility of Life: The story highlights the fragility of life and the impermanence of worldly achievements. The proud trees believed they would last forever, but they were cut down and destroyed. It serves as a reminder that nothing in life is certain, and our attachments to material success can lead to disappointment.
• Adaptability and Resilience: The fourth tree adapts to the changing circumstances of its life, from providing shade to nurturing new life. This resilience and adaptability teach us that life’s challenges can be opportunities for growth and renewal.
• The Circle of Life: The story illustrates the cycle of life and how every living thing, including trees, has a role to play in this cycle. It encourages us to appreciate the interconnectedness of all life forms and the importance of preserving and nurturing the environment.

Kind and Warmest Regards

Dhamma Tāpasā*(Andrew Hallas)

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