We found two thorny trees in the DBKU Orchid Garden which we have visited recently.  The entire trunk is full of thousands of short, fat but sharp thorns.

“Don’t come near to me or you will get hurt”, said the tree to everything around it including human, birds, squirrel and other animals.  I cannot imagine what would happen if a bird with bad eye sight accidentally knock on these trees, it would be extremely unfortunate.

In the natural world it is not difficult to find flora and fauna that protect themselves, such as rose, porcupine etc.  They have been over protecting themselves (although they might or might not launch an attack).  Parents would ask children not to run around the area with thorny plants.  Gardeners would also have to take extra precautions when they handle these type of plants.

Sometimes, we, as human are also over protecting ourselves - verbally especially.  I believe you have encountered this type of people.  Those are stubborn people who always thought that others are wrong except themselves.  They always disagree with what others said or thought about.  Usually their words always come with thorns and they hurt others without noticing it, and thought that it is the absolute law.

All living being has this characteristic (at different level) because everyone has the concept of both “me” and “not me”.  This overly done protective concept is actually destroying the harmony among different living being.

Do you think the following are beautiful?

1.  Thorny words that hurt people from a mouth of a beautiful lady or handsome man.

2.  A thorny branch of a rose with human bloodstain.

3.  A cute pet turtle which try to open it tiny mouth very wide trying to bite its owner’s finger with its sharp teeth.

4.  A plate of delicious curry fish on dining table where the fish bone can cause death to the diner.

We protect ourselves from thieves and robbers nowadays where the crime rate is terrible, but we should not “over” protect ourselves from our neighbours, friends or even family.

Recently, a police killed a teenager with unacceptable reason by the teenager’s family.  It might be difficult to say who is right or wrong because different parties have their own views.  But this case shows that - everybody care more about oneself rather than the others.

There is a proverb in Chinese which says that, “Ren2Bu2Wei4Ji3, Tian1Zhu1Di4Mie4″, which means “If a person do not take care of oneself, the sky and ground would destroy“.  I do not 100% agree with it, because egoism is the root of conflict which destroy the harmony of the universe.

This is the second tree with thorns all over its trunk.  I hope there isn’t a third thorny tree in the beautiful orchid garden.

Some people who cannot find the other half in their life (bf, gf, husband or wife) are those who always show their thorns and “over protect” themselves.  Do you agree?  But since nowadays there are too many bad guys around, we cannot neglect self protection for our safety.  But it must be balanced.