Page 140 - Extinguishment of self, in search of dhamma

132
everything. I am very lucky. She asked “Tid” (Translator’s note: The term refers to a person who spent sometimes in the monkhood) to help her to prune (the trees). Initially, I was concerned whether she would be able to do it. Now, after pruning—very beautifully—now, they all are becoming bonsais. From big trees, they are becoming bonsais; they are becoming clean (well-cut), the branches are clean (pruned). They show the branches; they show the tree trunks that are clean (pruned). I saw them in Japan: How come their tree trunks are so beautiful? When I looked closely, I noticed that all the branches were cut off, leaving only the leaves. Beautiful pine trees that we see in pictures—they are pruned at a Zen temple. They allow branches to grow only on one side. On the other side, they completely cut them off. So, the branches only grow out on one side—beautiful. Also, they cut (some branches) so that they become crooked.
This is called “decorated nature”—not nature that is really natural; nature that has already been decorated. This shows that some nature that has been decorated, we see it and we like it. We feel that it is an art. But, some nature is really natural, it is pristine, it has not been decorated. We call it primeval forest, correct? This is because it has yet to be decorated. But, its cleanliness is in its own style; its atmosphere is in its own style. Therefore, our human nature—if it is to look good—needs to be decorated. Chicken are beautiful due to their feathers; humans are beautiful due to decoration.