The mysteries of the seed have always intrigued me. There, latent in a little bit of tissue, is the life of a great tree. Seeds that lie dormant for many years often keep this potential and, when planted, send down their roots and push a slender shoot up to drink in the sunlight. Soon what was hardly noticeable becomes something that is hard to ignore.
Alwyn H. Gentry, writing in the World Book Encyclopedia, tells us about the banyan, “a kind of fig tree that grows in India and adjacent countries. A single banyan tree has many trunks and can expand until it looks like a small forest.
“The tree grows in a peculiar way. Birds drop banyan seeds into the top branches of palms and other trees. The seeds sprout in the treetops and branches develop. Eventually, the branches send roots down into the ground. These supports then enlarge into trunks and develop new branches. In time, the banyan kills the supporting tree by strangling it.
“A fruit much like the edible fig grows on the banyan but it is not good to eat. The largest banyan tree known is on the island of Sri Lanka. It has 350 large trunks and over 3,000 small ones.
“The wood of the banyan tree is soft and porous. Its white, sticky latex is used to prepare birdline, which hunters use in capturing birds. The bayan tree gets its name from the Hindu word banian, meaning trader.”
Here’s an interesting parable about the banyan with an important point to make. The following was used in a message by a converted Burmese to a group of his fellow countrymen:
A little banyan seed said to a palm tree, “I am weary of being tossed about by the wind; let me stay awhile among your leaves.”
“Of course,” said the palm tree, “stay as long as you would like.”
After a while he forgot the seed was there. But the seed was not idle. It sent out little fibers and tiny roots, which at first were hardly noticable. But soon they crept around the trunk and under the bark itself. Then the tree cried out, “What is this?”
The banyan said, “It is only the little seed you allowed to rest among your leaves.”
“Leave me now,” said the palm. “You have grown too large and strong.”
“I cannot leave you; we have grown together. I would kill you if I tore myself away.”
The palm tree bowed and tried to shake the banyan off, but could not, and little by little the palm leaves withered, the trunk shrivelled, and only the banyan could be found. The lesson is obvious: Beware of little sins, of passing evil thoughts, of harbored grudges! Quickly uproot those “little” harmless things for they have the potential to ruin your life for God. No passing pleasure, idle thought, root of bitterness, or selfish habit is worth that much.