Seeds of Karma: Unfolding the Tapestry of Life

The giant sequoia (Sequoiadendron giganteum) stands as a testament to nature's grandeur. I recently encountered this magnificent species in two distinct settings: Sequoia National Park in California, during the summer of 2024, and at the Mata-Jardim José do Canto in the Azores, a few months later. The Azorean sequoia, one of the few on the islands, originated from seeds brought from California.

While both trees share the characteristic towering trunk, reddish-brown bark, and overall form of a giant sequoia, subtle differences are apparent. The Azorean tree, though healthy and thriving in the humid, temperate climate, is not as tall as its California counterpart, and its bark possesses a distinct quality. These variations highlight the profound influence of environment on even the most genetically predisposed organisms. It's a reminder that while the seed holds the potential, its unfolding is intricately woven into the tapestry of its surroundings.

This observation brings to mind a philosophical exercise I often shared with my surgical residents, including my "favorite" (though, like my children, they are all favorites, a secret I trust they keep). I would assign them metaphysical readings, encouraging them to step back from the technicalities of medicine and cultivate the art of observation – a skill essential to both healing and living. One resident, Ali, was particularly fond of Sufi wisdom. I once posed a question to him after clinic: "Ali, if you had been born and raised elsewhere, say, in Africa, would you still be Ali?" The implications are clear: a different language, different food, a different name, a different appearance – the very fabric of identity shaped by circumstance.

Just as Ali's identity would be molded by his environment, the sequoia's expression of its genetic potential is conditioned by the soil, climate, and ecosystem it inhabits. The California sequoia reaches its majestic height under the specific conditions of its native Sierra Nevada range. The Azorean sequoia, though genetically identical at its core, adapts to a different reality, expressing its potential in a unique way, shaped by the winds, rains, and available space of its island home.

This mirrors the interplay between inherent potential (the seed's genetic code) and the karmic forces of circumstance (the environment). The universe, a dynamic and interconnected tapestry, unfolds according to its own grand design. Each thread represents an event, a circumstance, an individual. The overall pattern is set, yet the way each thread interacts with others reflects a continuous dance of balance.

The universe, in its karmic unfolding, placed the sequoia seed in the Azores, not randomly, but as part of its intricate design. The outcomes for each tree are not fixed. They represent the universe's balancing act—adapting to local conditions while staying true to their essential nature as sequoias. Similarly, our own life paths reflect this interplay. The "seed" of our potential—our genetics, upbringing, and inherent tendencies—unfolds in response to the "environment" of choices and circumstances, all while harmonizing with the larger whole.

The Azorean sequoia forms its unique thread in the tapestry, balanced by the threads of its island environment. The California sequoia weaves another thread, equally vital, balancing with its own unique surroundings. Both are part of the same tapestry, yet each expresses its potential differently based on interconnected conditions.

Like the trees, we humans are both expressions of our inherent nature and the conditions that shape us. We are not separate from the universe but active participants in its ongoing dance of balance. If everything were predetermined, every seed would produce an identical tree, regardless of location. But that is not the case. Conditions matter. The tree harmonizes with its environment. If everything were free will, a seed could become anything. But it doesn't. Its essence as a sequoia defines its potential, while its environment shapes how that potential is expressed.

Our lives, too, unfold within this grand tapestry. While we may perceive ourselves as making choices, those choices are themselves conditioned by countless factors—our past, our environment, our innate tendencies. Yet, we are not passive observers. Our choices contribute to the flow of life, adding to the overall balance.

The sequoia serves as a potent metaphor for human existence. The tree doesn't argue with the soil, nor does it lament the wind that shapes its branches. It simply grows. Life, too, is like that—a dance of balance within the universal symphony. We may think we are choosing whether to grow tall or wide, but in reality, we are responding to the interplay of sunlight and rain. In the end, regardless of where we are planted, we are already part of the forest. In medicine, as in life, let's not lose sight of the forest for the trees.