3,000
Dear students and friends,
I came across a very inspiring story today and I wish to share this with everyone. You must take the time to read this story… it is truly beautiful how he spends his time to take care of the planet this way… It is a story about Mr Ma San Xiao, a 63 year old veteran. Mr Ma, who lost his legs due to a blood infection many years back, has planted 3000 trees over the last 10 years… Amazing! Even for able-bodied people like us, it is clearly no easy task! For us to plant even one tree would take a while. Take a look below at how Mr Ma San Xiao planted 3000 trees…
Tsem Rinpoche
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The Legless man who planted 3000 trees
Tree Soldier
A retired veteran who lost both his legs has spent 10 years planting more than 3,000 trees on the sides of north China’s remote mountains.
His story has inspired people across the country.
China Report has the story.
Six-two-year-old Ma Sanxiao is a former soldier.
He lost both his two legs due to sepsis, a disease where blood is overwhelmed by bacteria. Ma had one leg amputated in 1984, and another in 2004.
But that has not stopped him from planting more than 3,000 trees on nearby mountains in Jingxing county in Hebei Province during the past 10 years.
Ma gets before 5 a.m. every day, puts on his prosthetic limbs, climbs the mountains and plants trees.
It takes Ma more than 40 minutes to climb just hundreds of meters of mountain. Because actually he’s not “climbing”, he’s “crawling”.
People usually plant tress in spring, however, Ma has to dig the holes all the year round for preparation.
SOUNDBITE(CHINESE): MA SANXIAO
“I have difficulty in moving. It’s a fact that I have to face. I told myself that although I’m different, I have to accept it and never complain. I believe I can overcome any difficulty and would never be beaten.”
He told CNC that after the first amputation, he was distressed.
He sold everything valuable at home and ran into heavy debt.
Ma began to plant trees in 2001 on the barren mountains nearby, hoping to earn money by selling the trees.
Later his situation improved as the pensions for retired veterans increased.
Ma decided never to sell the trees and just let them improve the ecological environment.
SOUNDBITE(CHINESE): MA SANXIAO
“Many people came to buy my trees, even at a very high price. But I all refused.”
SOUNDBITE(CHINESE): MA SANXIAO
“I plant more trees to make the mountains greener. As you see, the straight lines of trees are just like green soldiers of the nature.”
Ma’s story has inspired many people after he was spotted by a photographer who uploaded a video clip about him on the Internet.
Netizens, enterprises and local governments have donated him a wheelchair, irrigation equipment and saplings.
Mr Ma has been planting trees for over 10 years
Mr Ma wakes up every morning at 5 am to plant the trees
Worn out gloves… Mr Ma works so hard, it only takes 5 days for a new pair of gloves to be worn out.
Not an easy task… he had to crawl most of his way across the land as it is hilly
Walking home after a long day…
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Simply amazing! Even though Mr Ma Sanxiao is sixty two years old and had lost both his legs, he did not let that any of his disadvantages deter him from doing something that benefit others. Ma although is handicap without legs is persistent to plant over 3000 trees to improve the ecological environment. Thank you Rinpoche and blog team for this inspiring story???
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this article about Mr Ma. Here, Mr Ma is telling us that when we have a will there is always a way. Mr Ma although is handicap without legs is persistent to plant over 3000 trees to improve the ecological environment. For us who are healthy and not handicap does not have the excuses to be lazy. Mr Ma’s works should be help by the government and also the public to create more awareness about the environment.
With folded palms,
Vivian
Even though Mr Ma Sanxiao is sixty two years old and had lost both his legs, he did not let that any of his disadvantages deter him from doing something that benefit others. His determination to plant tree is exemplary especially when he chose barren land to do so. Mr Ma’s sheer determination to plant the trees to protect the environment is admirable. Mr Ma is a good example for us.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this inspiring story. Although Mr Ma has physical difficulties but did not give up and continue to breakthrough his challenges. And create a history in planting 3000 trees in 10 years.
It reminds me that we should never give up no matter how many times we failed. We just need to continue to work hard and eventually we will see result.
Simply amazing! An old man who lost both his legs but he still work hard, determine to plant tree for the sake of others! I salute him! Will always remind myself of his story whenever I want to make any complaints. Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this inspiring story!
Despite all the odds that is against him, he is determined to go all the way and do what he feels that he needs to. This determination,perseverance and patience are the key elements that modern day youngsters are lacking of to strive for success in whatever they are pursuing. Salute to this honourable Tree Soldier. Thank you Rinpoche for sharing with us the living example of what determination is.
He looks like such a lovely man. Its wonderful how he manage to crawl out of distressed after losing his first leg and going into debt. Its truly inspiring how he faced the facts and battled every possible difficulty. He is truly a good man. I can’t believe he managed to plant so many trees, i havent even planted one in my life. The environment and nature has done so much for me yet i have not done anything in return. I wish to plant a few trees in the future. Thanks for sharing this story Rinpoche.
This is a most inspiring story and what an amazing man Mr. Ma is.
This really proves that ” if there is a will, there is a way”.
Most people in Mr Ma’s condition would have given up and would just sit around , feeling sorry for themselves, becoming angry at the world and eventually die in bitterness.
Mr Ma has the determination, the passion and the wonderful energy to turn outwards in making the world a better place, rather than becoming
a miserable and sad man , just waiting for his death.
He will leave a great and wonderful legacy with the thousand of trees that he had planted and a most inspirational story for the world.
It is really inspiring to see such real life stories… how someone who is what society would consider disable and poor can give so much more to the world then a rich man can. It is also an apt reminder to count our blessings, appreciate what we have – a fit body and to do more! Excuses are just basically lies we tell ourselves to give in to our laziness or projections we cannot do, no matter how old we are. If we really want to do it, if we put our minds to it, we definitely can. After watching this, we should never complain no more about our situation. Thank you Rinpoche for this sharing.
I am so inspired by this story where he crawls to the hill everyday with so much hardship to just continue to grow his trees. Although when his situation got better when the pension fund was increased, he continued to go up the hill everyday to make sure the trees are fine although he is no longer selling any of the trees.
This is so amazing that Ma San Xiao can plant so many trees, in average, he is planting 300 trees per year and almost 1 tree per day. With his condition, he clearly proved to us that nothing is impossible in this world, no matter what condition you are, no matter how much disadvantage you have, but if you are determine enough, you can achieve whatever you want.
Quote from Rinpoche: Never say you cannot, because that is not the real you.
What an incredible man! Planting trees on hilly terrains with both legs already amputated and many of us able-bodied but not doing anything worthwhile. It is rare to see such dedicated qualities in today’s society. I salute Mr Ma for his grit.
If there is more people like Mr. SanXiao our world would be much more green and beautiful. I like what he said on this “I have difficulty in moving. It’s a fact that I have to face. I told myself that although I’m different, I have to accept it and never complain. I believe I can overcome any difficulty and would never be beaten.”
I am truly inspired by the story of Mr Ma.
Mr Ma Planting trees for almost 10 years! From his story, I realized that whatever work we pursue , if we do it consistently , the results always magnificent!
Get things done with faith and integrity ! Rejoice for Mr Ma, may many more Mr Ma protecting our environment !
This is an amazing story .Mr Ma Sanxiao is a very special elderly man.Thanks Rinpoche for sharing this wonderful story.
Intelligence, talents and skills are wonderful to have. However, without the 2 ingredients of perseverance and determination, one can only reach a certain limit. I always admire people with these qualities. They are qualities that can endure hardship and push beyond their boundaries.
All pictures posted here touches my heart. In our normal daily lives, there hide some special people who can be big inspirations to many people like us out there.
Instead of lamenting on his own misfortunate, Mr Ma consistently does a meritorious job that benefits not himself but our planet earth.
It is about one tree planted per day. With his disabilities, this is surely not an easy job.
I salute at the sincerity displayed by Mr Ma. A simple man like him teaches us that we should look at what we have (not what we lack of) and do something positive with them and always believe (although it can be tougher sometimes) that a warm heart and strong belief can lead us to where we want to be.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this story with us.Mr Ma SanXiao is indeed a kind soul as in time of need he look to mother nature for help.But when he have enough to get through his daily needs he would return back his gratitude by planting more trees to repay mother nature.I felt that he had accepted that his disability was due to his own karma as he did not feel sorry for himself or blame anyone for his faith. Instead he was strong and determine to do something meaningful with his life, indeed very inspirational.
实在了不起,身体强健的一般人来,也不是一份简单的工作
这个世上无难事，只怕有心人.遇，当我们遇到困难时就想放弃。
看了这故事之后，遇到困难时就不要这么轻易放弃，要坚持下去。
马三小先生，是一位63岁退伍军人，他用最宝贵的时间来，种植超过3000多棵树，用这样方法来照顾地球。
我们又用了宝贵的时间，做了什么对生命有意义的是。。。。。
My salutations to Mr. Ma San Xio for his determination and will-power to plant so many trees for the environment. He did not allow his disabilities and the difficulties stopped him from planting and taking care of the trees. This is no easy task even for young full bodied people. May Mr Ma stay healthy and live long!
Thanks Rinpoche for sharing this article with us. This is so inspiring and touching. I hope that everyone may step out at least a small step from our comfort zone due to this good example.
Mr Ma Sanxiao is a very special elderly man, who despite his handicap, carry on his life with true grit, determination and dutifully planted the trees to protect the environment. It is not easy for a person half his age to plant these 3000 trees, and in a remote mountain. I hope Mr Ma will be blessed with a long and healthy life.
激发人心的故事。世上无难事，只怕有心人。我们要常常提醒自己，遇到困难时不要
轻易放弃，相信自己，坚持下去，一定能成功的。马先生是我们学习的模范。
Very touching story, this story given some thought that “Not To Give Out” so easily in our life when facing difficulties. Thanks Rinpches for sharing.
It is truly an inspiring story, happening now and something we can all relate to. Let it not be another inspiring story that goes wasted due to our lazy minds to push ourselves beyond boundaries that we set ourselves up to, but a teaching that ‘when there is a will, there is a way’ so stop putting labels and limited projections on oneself.
Long live Mr Ma SanXiao!
Just look at the face of Mr. Ma, there’s not one string of discontent on his face but aglow with the vibrance many young, healthy and capable people are unable to have in today’s world.
What inspired me was his will to live and to make ends meet. there is a fighting power in him which moves from higher to higher by the day which resulted in his beautiful trees.
We need more people like him to inspire us to make the world a happier and GREENER place to be!
This is amazing. We might take ourself as someone who loves the mother earth but how much solid effort we have done to our planet. Instead we could observe many cut down trees around us, especially trees in front of their house. Reason? May be is not nice looking or leaves drop everyday…
It’s amazing that the veteran has no legs! And the obstacles he faces are definitely much much bigger than us, and he overcomes all that…
I found Ma Xiao San found his purpose or meaning of life through tree planting, even he was not to plant tree for the environment initially. He heals himself through the action. All by himself.
This is a very inspiring story shared, similar to the little girl who was born with no feet and used a ball to move around. For those of us who have our own limbs, we do not make full use of them until it’s too late.
However, Mr Ma choose to pick up courage and do what he like, which is to plant trees. Although his initial motivation was for money, the process of planting and watching them grow to beautiful trees changed his mind later and decided to keep them. He must have found peace in planting these tress and in nature. He found his true nature which brings him happiness. His disability did not discourage his accidental discovery of peace of mind whenever he plant trees. I believe the pursue of peace in his mind is what continue to motivate him in his pursuit. I am inspired by this story. Thank you.
It is more than just planting the trees, Mr Ma must have spent much of his time and effort in maintaining the trees by watering and fertilizing them. And there are 3,000 trees so far.
He must have seen the need to plant trees in his part of the world, as we could see from the pictures, the land is really bare with little or no greens except for the trees planted by Mr Ma.
故事非常感人。 他用行动证明给所有的人， 他残而不废！ 他是有用的人！
不放弃，有清楚的目标， 勇气， 一定会成功！
面子值多少钱？ 遗憾终生，你有听说过吗？
Thanks Rinpoche for sharing this wonderful story. Dhamar learning required same principle (persistence) inspire the difficulties we face.
Dedicated to Mr Ma Sanxiao, the Tree Soldier:
Green Soldiers of Nature
In barren lands where grey giants roam
Where brothers of old no longer dwell, they moan
In the distance a single flash of green.
A lone captain stands guard
With an army of thirty centuries, a call to arms
At the bastion of nature’s legacy.
Immovable as the mountains
Resolute and at peace,
the Green Soldiers of Nature stand fast.
The ranks shall grow,
Each a commanding general, they sing
In memory of the lone captain, the Tree Soldier.
Sean in Shanghai
This is an amazing story, Rinpoche… so many of us are lazy to climb stairs or to go out and get exercise which even directly benefits us…. it is inspiring and sobering to see how Mr Ma overcomes his limitations by sheer determination and passion for his cause – planting trees for the environment. Although he had originally wanted to plant the trees to earn money, his passion for the trees was more than his need for finances – and due to his passion, he has received resources from people who admire his cause. Thank you for sharing this story.
What an amazing story of grit and perseverance! 62 year-old Mr Ma, who had lost both his legs as a result of a disease, used to get up at 5 every morning to make his way to the hills to plant 3000 trees. Because of the hilly terrain, he had to crawl on his knees to dig each hole and plant each tree. He had intended to sell the trees to raise money for himself. In the end, he didn’t sell them, even though he was offered high prices for them . He just loved seeing the trees standing in lines like soldiers and it was good for the environment to have the trees there. Now this hilly land ,which was formerly bare, looks green and lovely, thanks to Mr Ma’s fantastic effort. I salute this rare being,for thinking beyond himself and showing the world that, even without legs, one can do so much.
“… It’s a fact that I have to face. I told myself that although I’m different, I have to accept it and never complain…” This statement is such a reminder for me not to complain!!
We need more such stories to inspire more people to work for the benefit of others.
This is so inspiring. I salute Mr. Ma SanXiao for his courage, determination and love to plant all those trees for planet Earth for future generations. Disability is nothing when you are strong in your mind and set mind to accomplish your goal.