In this lecture, Ishan Shivanand (referred to as Prayag) addresses the challenge atheists pose when asked to "show God," responding with a seed‑to‑tree metaphor taught by his guru, Babaji. He explains that God is not a person but an eventual destination that a seed (the individual) must realize through inner work (sadhana). The seed must undergo metamorphosis, endure storms, and ultimately destroy its egoic self to become a tree, symbolizing divine manifestation. Shivanand extends the metaphor to relationships, noting that partners often resist each other's spiritual growth because a seed subconsciously prefers others to remain seeds, preserving the familiar dynamic of conflict. He advises that true love involves supporting the other's transformation into a tree, even if it changes the relational pattern. The talk blends spiritual philosophy, practical guidance on inner practice, and observations about interpersonal tension arising from spiritual awakening.
Chapters
Atheists will come to me and say that, show me God. And it is very difficult to debate with an atheist. And when I told my Guru that, how do you debate with an atheist? An atheist says, show me God. Babaji says, it is like a seed saying, show me the tree. God is not a person. It is a destination. It is an eventuality for the seed, an eventuality that has to be manifested. I cannot show the seed the tree or what it can become. The seed has to do the work. The seed has to go through the process of metamorphosis. The seed has to awaken what is inside. The seed has to go through the storms, the thunders. It has to take in the fertilizer of sadhana. Only then what is inside may come and manifest outside. But to become the tree, the seed will have to destroy itself. And the seed who is in love with itself, a seed that is narcissistic, a seed that all day keeps on taking selfies, a seed that loves the way it looks, such a seed will be very scared of even the concept of becoming a tree. Many times I see this, especially when I go to places like Hong Kong and Singapore. A lot of ladies would come and their husbands are not happy. And it's not like they are not happy because I am such a handsome saint. The husband is not happy and they are being very angry. Oh, why you are going to Shiv Yoga? Why you are meditating? And the wife says, oh, I don't understand why my husband doesn't feel happy that I am meditating. And the answer is because the husband subconsciously knows that eventually the wife will become a tree. And right now this works, whatever they have, the relationship. I am a seed, you are a seed. We both can yell at each other, we both can be angry at each other because I know you are not maxing your potential and you know I am not maxing my potential. So this works. There is a stability in chaos. But if you go and you become a tree, you become divine, you become powerful, then how will it look? A tree with a seed. Then how can I yell at you? How can we fight? So a seed subconsciously wants other seeds to remain a seed. And I told them that, see, it is up to you. 'If you can love him even if he will be seed, then you become a tree.' And they say, 'Of course, Prayag, we will love him. We will always love him.' Then I said, 'Okay, become a tree and let's hope and pray that one day they get inspired.'
