The Wisdom Tree (Bringing Wisdom into Lives)

Wisdom is the art of converting an experience into learning. Every experience one undergoes in the course of life is like a seed. The learning that comes out from that experience is like a tree. The biggest of trees manifest from the smallest of seeds. How easy it is to misjudge the depth of content that is stored in the tiny seed! If only we could learn to decode the hidden wisdom contained in every experience, life would become a journey of learning, rather than a series of frustrating experiences. The Wisdom Tree is a book that helps you see the world from the perspective of a learner.

Radhanath Swami Spiritual Leader, International Speaker and Author Radhanath Swami, author of the international best-seller The Journey Home, has been a Bhakti Yoga practitioner for more than forty years, and is one of today's most beloved and respected spiritual teachers. He is a guide, community builder, activist and acclaimed author. Rooted in his study of ancient India's mystic devotional tradition, Radhanath Swami's message is simple: by cultivating a genuine practice of service, we can become instruments of compassion and agents of sustainable change in the world. Born in a Jewish family in Chicago, his journey began at 19 when he set off to hitchhike across Europe, the Middle East and Asia. In India, he studied with some of the foremost spiritual and yoga masters before returning to the West to share his gifts of wisdom. Today, Radhanath Swami delivers numerous motivational talks around the world. His work includes support for missionary hospitals, orphanages, schools and emergency relief programs.

With over 7,500 sessions delivered in more than forty countries since 1990, Radhanath Swami is a highly sought-after speaker and is one of the highest rated speakers at the Young Presidents Organization (YPO). He has addressed over five hundred thousand people from all walks of life, and is highly regarded as a global influencer. Radhanath Swami has addressed leaders in diverse institutions such as TEDx, London Business School, YPO, the British House of Commons and House of Lords, World Marketing Congress, HSBC, Apple, Oracle, Google, Starbucks and many others

Wisdom is the art of converting an experience into a process of learning. Every experience that one undergoes in the course of life is like a seed. The learning that comes out from that experience is like a tree. Even the biggest of trees manifest from the smallest of seeds. How easy it is to misjudge the depth of content that is stored in the tiny seed! If only we could learn to decode the hidden wisdom contained in every experience, life would become a journey of learning, rather than a series of frustrating experiences. The Wisdom Tree is a book that helps you see the world from the perspective of the learner.

Every aspect of the tree helps us taste a different flavor of wisdom. Consider the stem of a tree, which has so many layers; each layer indicates another year of experience in the life of the tree. Just as every layer strengthens the tree, similarly, every experience adds another layer of strength in our life. The Wisdom Tree is a manual that helps you realize your strengths.

A tree is judged by the quality of its fruit. While the gardener waits patiently for the tree to manifest fruits, invariably, every tree will have some bitter and some sweet fruits. The bitter fruits teach us as many lessons as the sweet fruits. However, if our attempts to seek happiness are beset with unrealistic expectations, like of wanting only sweet fruits, then the natural outcome of this is to be annoyed. The Wisdom Tree is a guidebook that helps you taste the sweetness lying within the bitter fruit.

The essence of the tree is not above the ground; in fact, if every part of the tree is cut keeping the root intact, an entire tree can manifest itself again. The root indicates the foundation principle of the tree. If life is based on sound principles, no matter how many setbacks one faces in life, these principles help a person to come back. The Wisdom Tree, like a hosepipe, waters those principles around which life should be centered.

The sun shining its light on darkness signifies knowledge and freedom from ignorance. The leaf traps the energy of the sun and combines it with water from the root and carbon dioxide from the air to nourish the entire tree. Like the leaf, we too can strive to flourish in the energy of the sun. The Wisdom Tree is like the sun sharing its rays of knowledge; if only with open minds we absorb this ray of knowledge, our lives will be nourished with meaning.

We encourage you to delve deep into The Wisdom Tree. Remember, life's greatest lessons are all around you waiting to be learnt!