"The secret of improved plant breeding, apart from scientific knowledge, is love." Luther Burbank uttered this wisdom as I walked beside him in his Santa Rosa garden. We halted near a bed of edible1 cacti2.
"While I was conducting experiments to make 'spineless' cacti," he continued, "I often talked to the plants to create a vibration3 of love. 'You have nothing to fear,' I would tell them. 'You don't need your defensive4 thorns. I will protect you.' Gradually the useful plant of the desert emerged in a thornless variety."
I was charmed at this miracle. "Please, dear Luther, give me a few cacti leaves to plant in my garden at Mount Washington."
"I myself will pluck them for the swami." He handed me three leaves, which later I planted, rejoicing as they grew to huge estate.
The great horticulturist told me that his first notable triumph was the large potato, now known by his name. With the indefatigability6 of genius, he went on to present the world with hundreds of crossed improvements on nature-his new Burbank varieties of tomato, corn, squash, cherries, plums, nectarines, berries, poppies, lilies, roses.
I focused my camera as Luther led me before the famous walnut7 tree by which he had proved that natural evolution can be telescopically hastened.
"In only sixteen years," he said, "this walnut tree reached a state of abundant nut production to which an unaided nature would have brought the tree in twice that time."
burbank
burbank2
Luther Burbank, beloved friend, poses with me in his Santa Rosa garden.
"She is my human plant." Luther waved to her affectionately. "I see humanity now as one vast plant, needing for its highest fulfillments only love, the natural blessings9 of the great outdoors, and intelligent crossing and selection. In the span of my own lifetime I have observed such wondrous10 progress in plant evolution that I look forward optimistically to a healthy, happy world as soon as its children are taught the principles of simple and rational living. We must return to nature and nature's God."
"Luther, you would delight in my Ranchi school, with its outdoor classes, and atmosphere of joy and simplicity11."
My words touched the chord closest to Burbank's heart-child education. He plied12 me with questions, interest gleaming from his deep, serene13 eyes.
"Swamiji," he said finally, "schools like yours are the only hope of a future millennium14. I am in revolt against the educational systems of our time, severed15 from nature and stifling16 of all individuality. I am with you heart and soul in your practical ideals of education."
As I was taking leave of the gentle sage17, he autographed a small volume and presented it to me. 38-1 "Here is my book on The Training Of The Human Plant," 38-2 he said. "New types of training are needed-fearless experiments. At times the most daring trials have succeeded in bringing out the best in fruits and flowers. Educational innovations for children should likewise become more numerous, more courageous18."
I read his little book that night with intense interest. His eye envisioning a glorious future for the race, he wrote: "The most stubborn living thing in this world, the most difficult to swerve19, is a plant once fixed20 in certain habits. . . . Remember that this plant has preserved its individuality all through the ages; perhaps it is one which can be traced backward through eons of time in the very rocks themselves, never having varied21 to any great extent in all these vast periods. Do you suppose, after all these ages of repetition, the plant does not become possessed22 of a will, if you so choose to call it, of unparalleled tenacity23? Indeed, there are plants, like certain of the palms, so persistent24 that no human power has yet been able to change them. The human will is a weak thing beside the will of a plant. But see how this whole plant's lifelong stubbornness is broken simply by blending a new life with it, making, by crossing, a complete and powerful change in its life. Then when the break comes, fix it by these generations of patient supervision25 and selection, and the new plant sets out upon its new way never again to return to the old, its tenacious26 will broken and changed at last.
"When it comes to so sensitive and pliable27 a thing as the nature of a child, the problem becomes vastly easier."
Magnetically drawn28 to this great American, I visited him again and again. One morning I arrived at the same time as the postman, who deposited in Burbank's study about a thousand letters. Horticulturists wrote him from all parts of the world.
"Swamiji, your presence is just the excuse I need to get out into the garden," Luther said gaily29. He opened a large desk-drawer containing hundreds of travel folders30.
"See," he said, "this is how I do my traveling. Tied down by my plants and correspondence, I satisfy my desire for foreign lands by a glance now and then at these pictures."
My car was standing before his gate; Luther and I drove along the streets of the little town, its gardens bright with his own varieties of Santa Rosa, Peachblow, and Burbank roses.
"My friend Henry Ford31 and I both believe in the ancient theory of reincarnation," Luther told me. "It sheds light on aspects of life otherwise inexplicable32. Memory is not a test of truth; just because man fails to remember his past lives does not prove he never had them. Memory is blank concerning his womb-life and infancy33, too; but he probably passed through them!" He chuckled34.
The great scientist had received Kriya initiation35 during one of my earlier visits. "I practice the technique devoutly36, Swamiji," he said. After many thoughtful questions to me about various aspects of yoga, Luther remarked slowly:
"The East indeed possesses immense hoards37 of knowledge which the West has scarcely begun to explore."
Intimate communion with nature, who unlocked to him many of her jealously guarded secrets, had given Burbank a boundless38 spiritual reverence39.
"Sometimes I feel very close to the Infinite Power," he confided40 shyly. His sensitive, beautifully modeled face lit with his memories. "Then I have been able to heal sick persons around me, as well as many ailing41 plants."
He told me of his mother, a sincere Christian42. "Many times after her death," Luther said, "I have been blessed by her appearance in visions; she has spoken to me."
We drove back reluctantly toward his home and those waiting thousand letters.
"Luther," I remarked, "next month I am starting a magazine to present the truth-offerings of East and West. Please help me decide on a good name for the journal."
We discussed titles for awhile, and finally agreed on East-West. After we had reentered his study, Burbank gave me an article he had written on "Science and Civilization."
"This will go in the first issue of East-West," I said gratefully.
As our friendship grew deeper, I called Burbank my "American saint." "Behold43 a man," I quoted, "in whom there is no guile44!" His heart was fathomlessly deep, long acquainted with humility45, patience, sacrifice. His little home amidst the roses was austerely46 simple; he knew the worthlessness of luxury, the joy of few possessions. The modesty47 with which he wore his scientific fame repeatedly reminded me of the trees that bend low with the burden of ripening48 fruits; it is the barren tree that lifts its head high in an empty boast.
I was in New York when, in 1926, my dear friend passed away. In tears I thought, "Oh, I would gladly walk all the way from here to Santa Rosa for one more glimpse of him!" Locking myself away from secretaries and visitors, I spent the next twenty-four hours in seclusion49.
The following day I conducted a Vedic memorial rite50 around a large picture of Luther. A group of my American students, garbed51 in Hindu ceremonial clothes, chanted the ancient hymns52 as an offering was made of flowers, water, and fire-symbols of the bodily elements and their release in the Infinite Source.
Though the form of Burbank lies in Santa Rosa under a Lebanon cedar53 that he planted years ago in his garden, his soul is enshrined for me in every wide-eyed flower that blooms by the wayside. Withdrawn54 for a time into the spacious55 spirit of nature, is that not Luther whispering in her winds, walking her dawns?
His name has now passed into the heritage of common speech. Listing "burbank" as a transitive verb, Webster's New International Dictionary defines it: "To cross or graft56 (a plant). Hence, figuratively, to improve (anything, as a process or institution) by selecting good features and rejecting bad, or by adding good features."
"Beloved Burbank," I cried after reading the definition, "your very name is now a synonym57 for goodness!"
LUTHER BURBANK
SANTA ROSA, CALIFORNIA
U.S.A.
December 22, 1924
I have examined the Yogoda system of Swami Yogananda and in my opinion it is ideal for training and harmonizing man's physical, mental, and spiritual natures. Swami's aim is to establish "How-to-Live" schools throughout the world, wherein education will not confine itself to intellectual development alone, but also training of the body, will, and feelings.
Through the Yogoda system of physical, mental, and spiritual unfoldment by simple and scientific methods of concentration and meditation58, most of the complex problems of life may be solved, and peace and good-will come upon earth. The Swami's idea of right education is plain commonsense59, free from all mysticism and non- praciticality; otherwise it would not have my approval.
I am glad to have this opportunity of heartily60 joining with the Swami in his appeal for international schools on the art of living which, if established, will come as near to bringing the millennium as anything with which I am acquainted.
Luther Burbank signature
38-1: Burbank also gave me an autographed picture of himself. I treasure it even as a Hindu merchant once treasured a picture of Lincoln. The Hindu, who was in America during the Civil War years, conceived such an admiration61 for Lincoln that he was unwilling62 to return to India until he had obtained a portrait of the Great Emancipator63. Planting himself adamantly64 on Lincoln's doorstep, the merchant refused to leave until the astonished President permitted him to engage the services of Daniel Huntington, the famous New York artist. When the portrait was finished, the Hindu carried it in triumph to Calcutta.
38-2: New York: Century Co., 1922.
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1
edible
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| n.食品，食物；adj.可食用的 | |
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cacti
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| n.（复）仙人掌 | |
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3
vibration
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| n.颤动，振动；摆动 | |
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4
defensive
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| adj.防御的；防卫的；防守的 | |
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standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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indefatigability
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| n.不疲劳，不屈不挠 | |
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7
walnut
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| n.胡桃，胡桃木，胡桃色，茶色 | |
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8
romping
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| adj.嬉戏喧闹的，乱蹦乱闹的v.嬉笑玩闹( romp的现在分词 )；（尤指在赛跑或竞选等中）轻易获胜 | |
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9
blessings
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| n.（上帝的）祝福( blessing的名词复数 )；好事；福分；因祸得福 | |
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10
wondrous
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| adj.令人惊奇的，奇妙的；adv.惊人地；异乎寻常地；令人惊叹地 | |
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11
simplicity
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| n.简单，简易；朴素；直率，单纯 | |
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12
plied
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| v.使用（工具）( ply的过去式和过去分词 )；经常供应（食物、饮料）；固定往来；经营生意 | |
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13
serene
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| adj. 安详的，宁静的，平静的 | |
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14
millennium
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| n.一千年，千禧年；太平盛世 | |
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15
severed
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| v.切断，断绝( sever的过去式和过去分词 )；断，裂 | |
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stifling
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| a.令人窒息的 | |
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sage
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| n.圣人，哲人；adj.贤明的，明智的 | |
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courageous
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| adj.勇敢的，有胆量的 | |
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19
swerve
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| v.突然转向，背离；n．转向，弯曲，背离 | |
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fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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21
varied
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| adj.多样的，多变化的 | |
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possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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23
tenacity
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| n.坚韧 | |
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persistent
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| adj.坚持不懈的，执意的；持续的 | |
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supervision
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| n.监督，管理 | |
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tenacious
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| adj.顽强的，固执的，记忆力强的，粘的 | |
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pliable
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| adj.易受影响的；易弯的；柔顺的，易驾驭的 | |
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drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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gaily
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| adv.欢乐地，高兴地 | |
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30
folders
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| n.文件夹( folder的名词复数 )；纸夹；（某些计算机系统中的）文件夹；页面叠 | |
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31
Ford
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| n.浅滩，水浅可涉处；v.涉水，涉过 | |
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32
inexplicable
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| adj.无法解释的，难理解的 | |
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33
infancy
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| n.婴儿期；幼年期；初期 | |
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34
chuckled
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| 轻声地笑( chuckle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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initiation
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| n.开始 | |
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devoutly
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| adv.虔诚地，虔敬地，衷心地 | |
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37
hoards
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| n.（钱财、食物或其他珍贵物品的）储藏，积存( hoard的名词复数 )v.积蓄并储藏（某物）( hoard的第三人称单数 ) | |
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38
boundless
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| adj.无限的；无边无际的；巨大的 | |
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39
reverence
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| n.敬畏，尊敬，尊严；Reverence:对某些基督教神职人员的尊称；v.尊敬，敬畏，崇敬 | |
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40
confided
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| v.吐露（秘密，心事等）( confide的过去式和过去分词 )；（向某人）吐露（隐私、秘密等） | |
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41
ailing
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| v.生病 | |
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42
Christian
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| adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒 | |
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43
behold
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| v.看，注视，看到 | |
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44
guile
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| n.诈术 | |
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45
humility
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| n.谦逊，谦恭 | |
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46
austerely
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| adv.严格地，朴质地 | |
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47
modesty
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| n.谦逊，虚心，端庄，稳重，羞怯，朴素 | |
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48
ripening
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| v.成熟，使熟( ripen的现在分词 )；熟化；熟成 | |
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49
seclusion
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| n.隐遁，隔离 | |
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50
rite
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| n.典礼，惯例，习俗 | |
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51
garbed
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| v.（尤指某类人穿的特定）服装，衣服，制服( garb的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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52
hymns
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| n.赞美诗，圣歌，颂歌( hymn的名词复数 ) | |
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53
cedar
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| n.雪松，香柏(木) | |
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54
withdrawn
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| vt.收回；使退出；vi.撤退，退出 | |
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55
spacious
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| adj.广阔的，宽敞的 | |
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56
graft
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| n.移植，嫁接，艰苦工作，贪污；v.移植，嫁接 | |
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57
synonym
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| n.同义词，换喻词 | |
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58
meditation
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| n.熟虑，（尤指宗教的）默想，沉思，（pl.）冥想录 | |
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59
commonsense
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| adj.有常识的；明白事理的；注重实际的 | |
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60
heartily
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| adv.衷心地，诚恳地，十分，很 | |
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61
admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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62
unwilling
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| adj.不情愿的 | |
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emancipator
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| n.释放者；救星 | |
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adamantly
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| adv.坚决地，坚定不移地，坚强不屈地 | |
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