In a vast forest lived two brothers, Donald and Nic, born into a family of woodcutters.

Donald believed in harnessing the forest’s resources to build wealth and power. He saw the trees as commodities, their value in the profit they could bring. He cut down many trees and sold the timber. With the money, he built a grand mansion surrounded by high walls to protect his growing wealth. His ambition attracted laborers and traders, creating a commerce around his mansion.

However, the exploitation of the forest came at a cost. The once-thriving ecosystem began to deteriorate, and the soil became barren. With fewer resources, people began to compete for what remained. Tensions rose, leading to conflicts and violence. The wealth Donald amassed brought power, but also fear, resentment, and strife.

Nic, in contrast, chose the path of growth through meditation and inward reflection. He peeled away layers of conditioning, societal expectations, and ego-driven desires. In the stillness of his mind, he found clarity – a mirror reflecting his true essence. He realized that meditation wasn’t an escape; it was an immersion – a merging of himself with the world around him.

Once merely a collection of trees and leaves, he saw the forest as a living entity in the interconnected web of life. Ensuring the forest could renew itself, he planted two saplings for every tree he felled.

Nic began sharing this knowledge with the villagers, fostering a holistic community that respected life. His humble home became a place of meditation and learning. People came to him for advice, healing, and solace.

Years passed. Donals’s mansion decayed, surrounded by a desolate wasteland, while Nic’s community thrived in harmony with nature. When a storm destroyed Donald’s mansion, he sought refuge with Nic and learned the value of inner growth and self-sufficient living.

He realized that true growth began as a seed within, nurtured by self-awareness, acceptance, and patience, blossoming outward, touching lives, communities, and the world.