Long before any animal life, there were plants. The animal life that appeared
later was and is fully depending on plant life. Plants have the ability
to transform inorganic matter to organic, which can not be done by
other creatures. Because of this dependency and being built out of plant
matter, our relationship is so intimate, that you might call this
relationship imaginary.
A relationship can only exist in duality. In unity or oneness there can
not be any relationship. Our relationship is attributed by us on this oneness.
Having lost ourselves the feeling, awareness, consciousness of the
oneness, we were able "see" many, where there is only one, with far stretching
consequences. Is this not the same story as in Genesis? If the relation
is imaginary, the consequences might be not so grave as it seems nowadays.
From the point of view of the unity the consequences are also imaginary,
like a bad dream in a warm and comfortable bed.
Let us
think a bit more about this unity. This is what makes it understandable,
how and why plants serve not only as food, but also as medicine.
Is there a plain border between vegetable food and herbs anyway? Being
built out of plant material, anything we need, should be available in the
vegetable kingdom. Herbs are the natural treatments, often easily available
in our own vicinity. But because off our misconception of the world (seeing
many, where there is one or in other words, imagining we are (some) one,
surrounded by other (some) ones, while we all are one, a continuum,
like cells in a body), we seem to have lost the knowledge of herbs. A knowledge,
which was common good, like it still is in animals. This does not
mean that any disorder in human life can be treated. After growth, decay
has to follow.
Birth carries
the promise of death. It is the same misconception again, that gives us
a deformed idea about disease. Being identified with our private
I, a disease and death are threats to our private I. If fungi lives
on plant, you could call it a disease of the plant, but the fungi
is having the time of its life. Both the plant's disease and the fungi
are in this example viewed from the limited point of view of a private
I. From the point of view of life, it is just (the) One form of life changing
into an other One, but it is still the One. Like changing cloth, does not
mean a change of person.
Now back to this knowledge.
I wonder if " knowledge" is the right word. When some not familiar substance
enters a body there will be reaction, a physical counter attack. The body
"knows" what to do. We don't have to think about it. Why is it not be the
same with herbs? I am convinced this is possible for us also. If we are
able to rise above the private I, a wider perspective on (our) life
will unfold itself. I once saw an american indian teacher, who could determine
whether a plant was useful or harmful, simply by holding it for a while
in his fist, he could sense it. Maybe sensing is a better word for this
kind of knowledge. In my experience there are different ways to rise above
the private I, like Yoga, Vedanta or just plain bliss. Certain experiences
can kick you out of your private I bottle, like a sunset, an orgasm,
watching the see or fire, an accident, a shock etc.. And of course our
plant allies, as you are probably aware of, getting this far visiting my
home page.