Mark 4: 5-6, 16-17: Other seed fell on rocky ground, where it did not have much soil, and it sprang up quickly, since it had no depth of soil. And when the sun rose, it was scorched; and since it had no root, it withered away… And these are the ones sown on rocky ground: when they hear the word, they immediately receive it with joy. But they have no root, and endure only for a while; then, when trouble or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately they fall away.
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“To plant a seed or a seedling is to entrust it to the earth. The plant will live or die because of the earth. But the earth also entrusts herself to the plant. Each leaf that falls down and decomposes will help the soil be alive. When we take refuge in the Buddha, we entrust ourselves to the soil of understanding. And the Buddha entrusts himself or herself to us for understanding, love, and compassion to be alive in the world,” says the Vietnamese Zen Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hanh (aka Thay) (The Heart of the Buddha’s Teachings, p. 162-163)
In Jesus’ parable of the sower, we hear of the seed falling on rocky ground; we think of the lack of root in the plant and the person. Even Jesus says, since “they have no root, [they] endure only for a while” (Mark 4:17). The problem is the lack of root…Or is it?
The lack of roots is an effect, not the cause of trouble. The real problem is mentioned earlier by Jesus: The soil has no depth (Mark 4:5). The soil is key. The soil has been ignored.
Acknowledging the value and importance of the Clean Air and the Clean Water Acts dating back to the 1970s, the soil scientist Dr. Rattan Lal asks us, where is the Clean Soil Act? Our lack of focus on soil health has been devastating for our Earth. The soil has been ignored. The soil is key.
Thich Nhat Hanh says the soil is alive and Dr. Lal agrees. What happens when the “soil of understanding” has depth and great life? Then the Buddha and Jesus’ teachings can take root, then we can fulfill our trust to bring to life understanding, love, and compassion. If our soil lacks depth, we may receive the teachings with joy, but everything quickly withers. Our spiritual and religious work is to improve the soil. How? We must compost what is not beneficial, that which does not serve compassion and agape love. A garden of loving kindness and compassionate understanding will grow.
Some people assume that those who embrace a melding of traditions like Buddhism and Christianity have a surface-level spirituality, one that lacks roots. Certainly, “seekers” risk remaining “spiritual shoppers,” skimming the surface, lacking depth – but that need not be the case for those called to “double belonging.” The Buddhist teacher Thich Nhat Hanh includes an image of Jesus on his altar and recognizes Jesus Christ as one of his spiritual ancestors. Thay says he is stronger for having these two roots (Living Buddha, Living Christ, p. 99-100). Two roots may grow well when the soil is deep and alive.
Among spiritual and religious leaders of the world, Nhat Hanh is known as one of the leading voices in caring for our planet. Having deepened, enriched, and enlivened the soil of compassionate understanding within himself, he recognizes that we are all part of the Earth. Thay emboldens us to open our hearts and raise our Earthen voices, to care for the living Earth beneath our feet, just as Dr. Lal calls us to enliven, enrich, and deepen the living soil of our planet.
What is true of the seeds of the Buddha and Jesus’ teachings is also true of our plant seeds – as well as the plant seeds of future generations. They require a depth of living soil. The soil is key. It must no longer be ignored.
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Seeds sown on rocky ground in soil that lacks depth may spring up quickly, but they will soon wither and die. What teachings and practices deepen and enrich your soil? We are entrusted by Jesus and the Buddha to grow in compassionate understanding and loving kindness. What thoughts, words, views, and habits prevent such growth? Can we begin to compost that which is not beneficial?
The soil is alive. The Clean Soil Act is our work. We can compost and garden in ways that enrich the soil. We are entrusted by Jesus and the Buddha to grow in compassionate understanding and loving kindness of our Mother Earth. We can create less rocky ground. We can help deepen and further enliven the soil. A depth of soil is needed.
(Music: Courtesy of Adrian Von Ziegler, “Circle of Life.” )