What the science of a tree teaches us about purpose.
The seed of inspiration (pun intended) for this, came from the book “Design in Nature” by Adrian Bejan, J. Peder Zane.
Dr Bejan is a genius who’s work in the field of thermodynamics has helped shape the world.
What is the purpose of a tree?
(Stick with me on this, the big ah-ha is coming… it is significant for many people and the implications can’t be understated.)
We might say it is to:
clean the air and provide oxygen
hold the earth together to stop erosion
give animals a safe resting place, and a home
give animals food
provide plants, fungi and bacteria food / building blocks
absorb the suns energy and convert it for us to use in different ways
give us wood for shelter
give provide shade
give colour to the landscape
return nutrients to the soil when their lifecycle has ended
Dr Bejan, took a whole new perspective…
What if we view a tree as a water pump?
(Stick with me, the big ah-ha is coming after the next photo…)
If we look at it as a water pump, who’s job is to move water from the soil to the atmosphere, then its shape, the branches and root structure, can be predicted with great precision. (Assuming all other things are equal. eg. different soils have rocks and obstructions in it that changes the overall pattern, but the same principle holds).
Dr Bejan then expands into many other areas and I highly recommend the book.
So here is the ah-ha that I want to talk about in this article… (and this is from me, not Dr Bejan)…
The tree has a primary purpose that it directs all its energy and resources to. It is fully optimized for that (returning water to the atmosphere), and continues to optimize its growth, nutrients and repair for that (and reproduction as a valuable continuation of its purpose and value to life).
A tree does not win alone. It needs the sun, the CO2, the water, the land, the other creatures to help it live its primary purpose.
The by-product of it living its primary purpose, is all the other gifts it brings to the world… all the things I listed before… and a new one at the top.
Primary purpose: recycles water for life. For plants and animals (us).
by focusing on its primary purpose, all the following happen, as a by-product of that one thing being done exceptionally well:
cleans the air and provide oxygen
holds the earth together to stop erosion
gives animals a safe resting place, and a home
gives animals food
provides plants, fungi and bacteria food / building blocks
absorbs the suns energy and convert it for us to use in different ways
gives us wood for shelter
gives provide shade
gives colour to the landscape
returns nutrients to the soil when their lifecycle has ended
and whatever else I’ve missed.
So, be a tree, stay solid on your primary purpose, optimize for that. Become exceptional at your primary purpose,
and you will create a large secondary ecosystem of benefits to life.
Do it without shame, guilt or regret.
In certain circles of this current civilization, we are made to feel guilty for aspiring, for being focused, for saying no to things, for wanting to break the mould and do only what we can do. For ending friendships and connections that are co-dependent and destructive. We are told we are selfish and..
Remember, no one wins alone, you need your team.
The prime purpose is the organizer and driving force, and it dictates everything else.
Please share with anyone you think might find this valuable, and feel free to challenge if you disagree.
Thanks,
Robert De Pinto
Author, Life Beyond Thinking,
A visual guide to spiritual recovery, in the architecture of consciousness.
p.s. This is the constructional law, from the book Design in Nature
“For a finite-size system to persist in time (to live), it must evolve in such a way that it provides easier and easier access to its currents.” Dr. Adrian Bejan
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