Perhaps nothing in nature knows the value of waiting as does the seed of a plant. While on an average, seeds can wait for at least a year before sprouting, some seeds like cherry seeds have the capacity to wait for a hundred years.
In her book "Lab Girl", Hope Jahren writes about an experiment conducted on the exterior layer of lotus seed (Nelumbo nucifera). After the scientists broke open its exterior layer and nurtured its embryo towards growth, they subjected the empty husk to radiocarbon dating. To their great amazement, they found that that particular seedling had been waiting over 2000 years for its single opportunity at life, without giving up hope, even while kingdoms and empires were rising and falling around it.
But what exactly was the seed waiting for? We don't know. Perhaps it was waiting for an optimal combination of temperature-moisture-light-nutrients that gave it a better chance at survival, so that its one chance at life was not wasted.
Let's compare this with the process of the beginning of human life. Millions of sperms compete for the entry into one egg. Here too, there is only one shot at the possibility of a fusion, without any scope for the waiting.
A seed is very much alive as it waits, silently and patiently. Next time when you tread into a forest and wonder at the marvel of those majestic oaks that stretch far above into the sky making you crane your neck to get a glimpse of its tip, don't forget to turn your wonder-struck gaze towards those hundreds of seeds strewn about the ground too.
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Denne historien er fra October 2023-utgaven av Yoga and Total Health.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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Wood Apple / Kapith
Wood apple or Goddess of forest (feronia elephantum) also known as Kapith in Sanskrit, Kothu or Keith is still available in the Indian cities thanks to the street vendors who sell seasonal berries, star fruit and other such foods.
Moving Meditation
Finding stillness in movement
Sensitising Children
Becoming better human beings is no child's play
The Parikarmas
Diamonds in the rough
Dharmic Leader in Modern Times
Lessons from Nature
Lights, Camera, Action
Making dreams come true
Unlocking the Happiness Within
The art of removing worries
About "Pairs of Opposites" and Dharma
From Kleshas to Aklishta
Different Paths in Yoga
What level is your awareness?
Building up Good Tendencies
Investing a little consistently goes a long way From a Parisamvada by Dr. Jayadeva Yogendra