The Spiritual Life of Lavender

Teachings from Teacher Practitioner Xia Lianju, recorded by Venerable HaiZe.

April 1, 2023

The lavender plant, with its vibrant purple hue, is a sight that captures the heart. When an entire field of these flowers blooms in unison, the beauty is truly unforgettable. The gentle, soothing fragrance they release brings a sense of peace to all who encounter it. Beyond their aesthetic appeal, lavender is highly valued for its versatility, as it can be processed into a wide array of products known for their therapeutic and healing properties. Whether for the purpose of beautifying our surroundings, for quiet contemplation, or for its economic utility, lavender is deeply loved and welcomed by people everywhere.

The Hidden Spiritual Nature

However, if we look beyond the surface, we must realise that there is another dimension to this plant. Every single stalk of lavender possesses a spirit. There is a living consciousness within, and each one is a sentient being currently caught in the cycle of rebirth. Their spiritual life is fundamentally the same as that of human beings. This spirit is neither born nor destroyed; it merely transmigrates through the six realms of existence, constantly changing its form and appearance.

Just like our own, the spiritual life of a lavender plant is governed by the Eight Consciousnesses and the Fifty-one Mental Factors. These store the complete record of the lavender's spiritual journey from beginningless time until the present moment. This record includes every experience and encounter it has faced, including the current process of existing as a lavender plant.

The Weight of Karmic Destiny

Under the relentless operation of karma, the lavender plant has no choice but to follow the arrangements dictated by its past actions. It does not know how long it must remain in this form. It cannot foresee how many times it must undergo the cycle of birth and death, or how many lifetimes it must pass through, before it can once again return to a human body and have the opportunity to practise the Dharma. This is the profound and often sorrowful fate of earthly creatures. They exist within their own unique spaces, living their lives alongside us, yet remaining separate and undisturbed by human affairs.

Perhaps those who feel a special affinity for lavender, or who find themselves deeply moved by its presence, have themselves been lavender in a past life. This is not an impossibility. In the vast expanse of samsara, such transitions are constantly occurring, whether in the world around us or within our own personal history.

The Power of Deliverance

Today, through the Chao Du performed by the Dharma Body of Practitioner Su, the destinies of countless earthly creatures have been saved and transformed. This work is a true manifestation of the Buddha's vow and compassion, realised here in the physical world through the body of a practitioner. It is a testament to the power of the Dharma to reach even the most humble forms of life.

To the fourfold assembly of disciples, remember this: saving other beings is, in truth, saving yourself. Conversely, the effort to save yourself is ultimately for the sake of saving all beings. All of this—the liberation of spirits, the transformation of karma, and the attainment of Buddhahood—can only be realised if you apply yourself with diligent practice in this very moment.

Namo Amituofo