Category:Becoming a Tree
Theme Analysis
Śrīla Prabhupāda issues a stern warning about the precarious nature of the soul's transmigration. He explains that the human form is a rare opportunity for spiritual realization, but if it is misused through animalistic propensities or philosophical deviation, one risks gliding down into lower species. A significant portion of these quotes addresses the specific karmic reaction to "shamelessness" and public nudity, which aligns with nature's law: if one desires to be naked, nature facilitates this by granting a body that stands naked for thousands of years—a tree.
- The Consequence of Nudity: Śrīla Prabhupāda explains the specific law of karma regarding the modern "nudie" movement; those who are fond of remaining naked are punished by taking birth as trees, where they must stand exposed to the elements for millennia.
- The Trap of Impersonalism: The analysis reveals that worshiping the void or denying the personal form of the Lord can result in becoming a non-moving entity, devoid of life symptoms, just like a tree.
- The Dullness of Consciousness: If a human being neglects their higher intelligence and acts with "dull-headedness" like an animal, they risk losing their mobility entirely and becoming a stationary tree.
- Mercy within Punishment: The story of Nalakūvara and Manigriva illustrates that while becoming a tree is a condemnation, the mercy of a pure devotee (Narada Muni) and the Lord can still reach a soul even in that degraded condition.
- Explore the synthesized essence of this category in this Vanipedia article: Heavy Cost of Shamelessness - Becoming a Tree.
Pages in category "Becoming a Tree"
The following 47 pages are in this category, out of 47 total.
A
- After many, many births, we have got this human form of life. If we simply waste like cats and dogs, then again we become cats and dogs or tree or anything. There are so many species of life. That will be great mistake, great loss
- Although you (Nalakuvara and Manigrvia) fell from the higher planet Svargaloka and became trees, you were most favored by him. I (Krsna) knew of all these incidents from the very beginning - SB 10.10.40
- Although you fell from the higher planet Svargaloka and became trees, you were most favored by him. I knew of all these incidents from the very beginning
- An example of stillness was described by a friend of Krsna, who informed Him in Mathura that all the cowherd boys had become just like leafless trees on the tops of hills
- Another gopi said, "At that time ( when Krsna is walking in a stride which is so attractive), our movements cease. We become just like trees and stand perfectly still, unaware that our hair and clothes are loosening"
B
- By inducing a prostitute to disturb Haridasa Thakura, Ramacandra Khan caused a seed of offense at his lotus feet to germinate. This seed later became a tree, and when it fructified, Ramacandra Khan ate its fruits
- By the curse of Narada Muni, Nalakuvara and Manigriva became twin arjuna trees and remained in the courtyard of mother Yasoda and Nanda Maharaja
I
- If he gets a superior body, then that is also an entanglement, even if he goes to the heavenly planets. But if he becomes a cat or dog, then his life is lost. Or a tree - there is every chance of it
- If they become so dull-headed, then God's power will make him a tree: Stand here. Stand up here for three thousand years. That's all. You are so dull-headed that you have no sense, so become a tree so that even if you are cut, you cannot protest
- If you sow a seed, not that immediately becomes a big tree and fruits. It takes some time. Similarly, our papa-bijam, the seed of sinful activities, we take it, immediately we may not see that it is fructified, but it will, in due course of time
- If you think that natural life, animal life, to become naked and do all nonsense, then "All right. You, next life you become a tree, naked. Stand up naked for ten thousands of years." You want to be naked? That's all right
- If your next life you become a tree, you stand up for ten thousand years in one place. Would you like? In childhood the teacher says: "Stand up on the bench," that was so much troublesome
- In the case of felling the gigantic arjuna trees, the Lord's mission was to deliver the two sons of Kuvera, who were condemned to become trees by the curse of Narada, as well as to play like a crawling child in the yard of Yasoda
- In the sastra it is stated that those who want to remain naked, they are punished in the next life to become tree, that - You wanted to be naked. Now you stand naked
- In the Western countries especially, they are now trying to become naked, nudies. So nature will give them to stand naked like a tree, or tree, for many years - You're so fond of become nudie. All right, you stand up here for 10000 years without any dress
- In their former birth, these two sons, known as Nalakuvara and Manigriva, were extremely opulent and fortunate. But because of pride and false prestige, they did not care about anyone, and thus Narada Muni cursed them to become trees - SB 10.9.23
- It (a fruit) finally falls from the tree and commences to decompose into the earth and at last mingles with the earth, leaving behind its seed which in its turn grows to become a tree and produces many fruits in time, which will all meet the same fate
- It is the human being who requires to be properly dressed. That is the law of nature. If we violate, then the punishment is, "All right, you become tree and stand up naked for ten thousand years." This is the nature's law
- It is up to you to make your choice whether you are going to dance with Krsna or you want to become naked tree standing for ten thousands of years. That is your choice. A living entity has got this independence
N
- Narada became angry with their behavior and cursed them thusly, "You have no sense, so it is better if you become trees instead of the sons of Kuvera"
- Narada then said, "Yes, you (Nalakuvera and Manigriva) shall become trees, arjuna trees, and you will stand at the courtyard of Nanda Maharaj. But Krsna Himself will appear in time as the foster son of Nanda, and He will deliver you"
- Nonetheless, after they (Nalakuvara and Manigriva) become trees and until they are released, by my (Narada Muni's) mercy they will have remembrance of their past sinful activities
- Now this civilization has spread in the Western countries - they want to remain naked. There are so many nudie clubs. So next life they'll be given chance to become tree, to stand naked for thousands of years
- Now this nudie movement is there, how to remain naked. That means next life they are preparing for becoming tree: Thousand years, stand up here, naked. Nobody will object
O
- Once Narada became angry with the two sons of Kuvera, Nalakuvara and Manigriva, and he chastised them by turning them into trees. The result was that later they were liberated by Lord Sri Krsna
- One should have sufficient knowledge to understand his constitutional position as a living entity. And he must develop renouncement, vairagya. Because attachment sometimes leads me to become a tree, a mouse, a serpent in the same house
S
- So Krsna will give you opportunity to remain naked, become animals, trees, like that. So that is not our aim of life. Our aim of life, the human form of life, is meant for understanding the Absolute Truth
- So-called comfortable life for few years, and then becoming a dog and hog, a tree? It is possibility
- Sometimes if people hear that by acting in such a way they will become a tree, a dog, a cat, an insect or even a human being, they say that they do not even care to know this
- Sukadeva Gosvami continued: Having thus spoken, the great saint Devarsi Narada returned to his asrama, known as Narayana-asrama, and Nalakuvara and Manigriva became twin arjuna trees - SB 10.10.23
T
- The great sage Narada thought it fitting that, although the brothers would be punished to become trees, by his mercy they would continue to keep their memory and be able to know why they were being punished
- The life was meant for understanding Krsna, but he is cultivating the culture of naked civilization, how to become naked. "So all right, next time you'll remain naked for many thousands of years, standing in one place as tree." This is going on
- The naked tree is standing naked for many thousands of years. Or animals. They have no shame. So if human being becomes so shameless, then next life is to become animal and trees
- The offenders Nalakuvara and Manigriva, even though living amongst the demigods, had to undergo the punishment of becoming trees in their next lives, although by the grace of a devotee they were later delivered by the Lord
- The seed of material enjoyment, watered by the course of material nature, fructifies to become a tree of material entanglement that endows the living entity with all kinds of material enjoyment
- There are many worshipable objects - the impersonalists worship the brahmajyoti, for instance - but by worshiping objects other than Radha and Krsna, one becomes bereft of life's symptoms and becomes just like a tree or other nonmoving entity
- These senseless, shameless persons who are advancing in their knowledge by becoming naked, they are going to be tree next life
- These senseless, shameless persons who are advancing in their knowledge by becoming naked, they are going to be tree next life. The naked tree is standing naked for many thousands of years. Or animals - they have no shame
- This civilization has spread in the Western countries - they want to remain naked. There are so many nudie clubs. So next life they'll be given chance to become tree, to stand naked for thousands of years. This is laws of nature
- Those who are very abominable, sinful, they go down planetary system or become lower than human being - animals, trees, birds, beasts, like that
- Those who worship the so-called void also attain such results - one becomes bereft of life's symptoms and becomes just like a tree or other nonmoving entity