The Seed of Life and Growth

                                     by Bhante Debongshi
             All plant life begins as a seed. In order for it to grow it requires nutrients (support) like fertile-soil and water to help it sprout to become a plant. With the support of these life’s fibers the seed first grows roots. Then the roots produce energy, which produces a shoot, a small plant which then comes through the soil. This is likened to the natural process of what takes place within human growth. Let’s take a closer look at what’s happening within this growth process. 
           Our life begins as a seed of consciousness like plant. Sensuality is the fiber for consciousness which supports life for growth. When consciousness finds ground with form, it’s protected and preserved by form, settled on it and with the support of sensual pleasure it begins to manifest like the plant which sprouts.  Wherever consciousness finds a ground, either with form, feeling, perception, or with any mental content, it engages and involves with it and with support of sensual pleasure it continues to advance into existence. The provision is that if there is a sensual entertainment, there is a tendency of longing for life to rejuvenate. The consciousness itself is like a survival package. It contains the karmic fibers for its need while growing energies and forming into life.
           Once pleasure and passion as fiber of support have given up, the longing for life eventually will disappear, in fact, consciousness will find no ground. It can not get settled anywhere in any given time. As it disengages with sensual entertainments, ultimately the function of its rejuvenation will come to end. Here the liberation takes place as an effect. It gets stabilized and remains undisturbed by anything or by any means. At this point, the experience of inclusiveness occurs within. In perfect understanding there is nothing which is unknown, unseen and unrealized in the world. Then you know that the life’s seed is removed, the round of repeated birth-death cycle is ended, life is fulfilled and task is done.
          In this one experiences boundless joy born of liberation right here and now in this very life. In the language of Buddha - soupadisesa-nibbana means one who experiences this final nectar of liberation while still living.
 
                                                                            Metta!