The Heartwood Hunt: Why We Settle for the ‘Twigs and Leaves’ of Success
In an era where personal value is often audited by social media metrics, titles, and material accumulation, many of us find ourselves lost in a maze of “performative success.” We work hard, we grow, and we achieve—but often, we are left with a lingering sense of hollowness.
Interestingly, this human tendency to mistake the “by-products” for the “goal” was addressed over 2,500 years ago. After a major schism in his community, the Buddha delivered the Mahāsāropama Sutta (The Great Heartwood Simile), a profound analysis of how we get distracted on our journey toward self-actualization.
He used a simple yet sharp analogy: Imagine a person entering a forest in search of heartwood—the solid, core essence of a tree—to build something of lasting value. But instead of the core, they get distracted by the layers.
1. Twigs and Leaves: The Trap of Status
The first group enters the forest, sees the lush foliage, and cuts off the twigs and leaves, thinking, “This is it! I’ve found the heartwood.”
In modern terms, these are the External Gains. It’s the thrill of fame, the prestige of a title, or the comfort of wealth. While these are natural parts of growth, the danger lies in “clinging.” When we use our status to look down on others, we become intoxicated by the “foliage.” We mistake the decoration of our lives for the purpose of our lives.
2. The Scale (Outer Bark): The ‘Good Person’ Complex
The second group goes deeper. They bypass the leaves but stop at the scale or outer bark.
This represents Moral Conduct (Sila). This group has discipline and integrity. However, they fall into the trap of “spiritual ego.” They use their “goodness” as a weapon, thinking, “I am more ethical than those people.” When morality is used to fuel the ego rather than to refine the heart, it remains just a thin, brittle layer—the scale of the tree.
3. The Bark: The Serenity Trap
The third group ignores the outer bark and peels away the inner bark.
In life, this is the achievement of Concentration (Samadhi)—mental stillness and emotional resilience. It feels incredible to be calm in a chaotic world. But the Buddha warned that if we merely “indulge” in this peace and use it to feel superior or detached, we are still just holding onto the bark. It is a protective layer, but it is not the core.
4. The Sapwood: The Illusion of Intellectual Brilliance
The fourth group reaches the sapwood—the layer just before the heartwood.
This represents Insight and Knowledge (Nana-dassana). These are the intellectuals, the experts, or those with profound specialized knowledge. It is easy to stop here and think, “I finally understand the world.” Yet, even deep knowledge can be a trap if it’s used to feed the “I am the expert” narrative. Sapwood is strong, but it is still prone to rot; it is not yet the unshakeable core.
5. The Heartwood: The Unshakeable Core
Finally, the wise person passes through the leaves, the scales, the bark, and the sapwood to extract the Heartwood.
The Buddha identified this heartwood as “Unshakeable Liberation of Mind” (Akuppa Cetovimutti). This is a state of being where your peace is no longer dependent on external conditions, your ego, or even your knowledge. It is the end of the “I” that needs to be better than anyone else. This is the only part of the tree that is truly durable and useful for the highest purpose.
Reflection for the Modern High-Achiever
The Mahāsāropama Sutta is a diagnostic tool for our ambitions. It doesn’t tell us to hate the twigs (fame) or the bark (peace); it simply reminds us that they are not the point.
If we spend our lives carrying around bags of twigs and leaves, we will eventually find they have withered, leaving us exhausted. But if we reach for the Heartwood—the internal freedom from the need for validation and the grip of ego—we find a strength that is both timeless and indestructible.
Today, ask yourself: Are you decorating your life with “leaves,” or are you building it from the “heartwood”?
