Message at the Inauguration of Spiritual Garden

Spiritual Garden

From time immemorial, certain trees and plants in India have been invested with divine attributes. A plant, or Tree of Life, which gives everything continuously and asks nothing in return, is truly a gift of the God to human beings, who draw their existence from this divine sustenance.Religious literatures mention about certain trees which are considered sacred by more than one religion. The Banyan tree occupies the pride of place amongst the sacred trees of India by Hindus, Buddhists and Jains. The Pomegranate (Anar) is considered sacred by Muslims, Parsis and Hindus. Ber is considered divine both by Hindus and Sikhs. Jasmine is considered divine by Hindus and Parsis. Wheat is considered sacred in Christianity and Hinduism. Fig (Anjeer) Tree is considered sacred in Islam, Hinduism as well as Christianity. Datepalm and Olive are treated sacred by both Muslims and Christians.

In Rashtrapati Bhavan there are hundreds of varieties of trees and plants. There are plants which give flowers with fragrance and beauty, whereas some give only beautiful flowers. Some of them blossom during the day and some during the evening. One thing I have noticed in the jasmine flower is that it blossoms through the night provides fragrance during the day and silently falls off and vanishes in the evening.

There are various types of trees for example the banyan provides shadow in hot summer for human beings, animals, flies and birds and are biologically continuously active providing oxygen to all living beings. There are several herbal plants which provide medicine for cancer, asthma, tuberculosis and many other ailments. There are aromatic plants which provide fragrant extracts. Flowers are a rich source of honey. Honey is the most acceptable natural food for the man kind.

Irrespective of which religion we belong to plants and trees provide us cereals, fruits, fluids, juices, vegetables, medicine, good air and above all they provide us great shadow without asking anything in return. They teach all of us one message that is give, give and give.

Spiritual Garden Radiates Unity of Minds

God has created the human race uniquely with brain and thinking faculty. He has commanded His creation to attain perfection in his own way of life working with reasoning to reach his image. In our country Unity of Minds is indeed an important mission since it is a society of multiple cultures and religions. There are many ways to achieve this mission. Plants and trees are one of the best examples.

Plants and trees give us cereal, fruits, vegetables, flowers, honey, they purify the air and also provide shade and shelter to all human beings, animals and birds without discrimination absorbing all the mid day heat of the sun. Few of the plants are cherished by each religion but all of them radiate the message of Unity of Minds. In turn this biological system is one of the good example for mankind to transform religion into a spiritual force. This transformation will give everlasting peace and happiness to the entire human race.