We must make use of our knowledge and abilities
Interviewer: Hello to all the members of Congress 60. I hope you’re all healthy and happy. Today, on the occasion of the tree-planting camp, we had the pleasure of meeting with Mr. Amin to have a conversation about this event. Please stay with us.
Mr. Amin: Hello to all my friends, both members of Congress 60 and those outside of it. I hope you’re all doing well.
Interviewer: Thank you so much. As the upcoming tree-planting camp approaches, we decided to have an interview with you. We truly appreciate you accepting our invitation.
During the annual camp, when we last met with you, you shared some background on how the very first camp came to be. Now, we’d like to hear more about that first experience, as well as the first time it became an official event and how you came to the conclusion that it should become a permanent part of Congress 60.
Mr. Amin: Thank you. In keeping with Congress 60’s tradition, I’ll start by saying: Hello friends, I’m Amin, a traveler.
The very first tree-planting camp, which also turned out to be the first official one, took place when Mr. Dezhakam and my mother, Mrs. Annie, attended. It was in 2012 at the Hakim Hidaji branch. We planted trees in two or three different areas there.
One of the spots was by the riverbank. We planted the trees as requested by the municipality, but unfortunately, they all dried up later. We had planted them, but the responsibility for their care wasn’t ours.
Another location was a garden owned by one of our members. We planted trees there as well, in three different areas, all in April 2012.
There was also a stretch of land along the road from the highway leading to the town of Hidaj. The soil there was incredibly hard—so much so that the guys joked digging through asphalt would’ve been easier! We planted oleaster trees there. Now they’ve grown tall, and whenever we pass by, we get to see them.
Members from both Tehran and Hidaj worked together on this, which made it a truly beautiful experience.
We camped out in the surrounding mountains, and the weather was extremely cold. It was so cold at night that no one could sleep, and even during the day, it was hard to rest because of the chill. After a couple of days, the group said, “We’re exhausted. Let’s head somewhere warmer.” So I agreed. We went to the Hakim Hidaji building, and that’s where everyone finally got some sleep on the third night.
This was the first tree-planting camp experience, which started right there in the Hidaj region. It all began there—just like the DST method did.
Interviewer: In the first part of this interview, we’d like to clarify the purpose behind the tree-planting camp. Beyond the fact that members participate as part of Congress 60’s tradition, we want them—especially newcomers and those attending for the first time—to understand why they’re really here.
There’s a saying: "One flower doesn’t make a spring." Compared to what the country actually needs, the work we’re doing might seem like just a drop in the ocean.
So how should we view this effort in a way that keeps us hopeful and helps us believe that what we’re doing truly makes an impact?
Mr. Amin: Yes, that’s an important point. You see, some sayings are absolutely true, but the perspective from which we look at them matters just as much.
Take that saying: "One flower doesn’t make a spring." If we expand on it, we could say: One flower alone doesn’t bring spring, but if everyone plants a flower, maybe it does. If everyone plants just one flower, then yes—spring will come, and an entire area can truly bloom.
What we’re doing here at Congress 60 is learning that, regardless of what happens in the outside world, I, as an individual—a member of this universe, of Congress 60, and of society—must do my part properly.
Our greatest lesson is this: wherever we are, we should do our work right. Even if everyone else chooses the wrong path—even if everyone is littering—let them. The answer to this mindset is clearly addressed in Mr. Dezhakam’s teachings in the Valleys. At one point, he says: The crimes and wrongdoings of others do not give us permission to make mistakes ourselves.
When we ask someone, “Why are you littering?” they might respond, “Well, all the forests have already been destroyed; what difference does it make if I drop one piece of trash?” But that’s not the point. Yes, others may have done wrong—destroyed the forests, committed crimes, caused corruption—but none of that gives me permission to contribute to the destruction.
And that is a very important lesson.
So, if I do my job properly, "one man in battle is worth a hundred thousand."
Sometimes, the members come to me and say, “I’m facing problems. The group isn’t working well; the branch isn’t working well.” And I always tell them the same thing: In any branch, one righteous person is enough to fix everything. Just one truly righteous person is enough. After all, how many people was Mr. Dezhakam? He was just one person. And from within him, all the discoveries, solutions, and the whole Congress 60 came into being because he was truly a righteous person and knew how to do the work.
So, in any branch, if one person is right, that person has the power and strength to turn the branch around—even if they have no official position. As a guide, they can help nurture so many good members that the branch becomes strong and powerful. An agent can create such an environment and atmosphere that the branch will grow.
This is where the real teaching comes from.
So, if we want to see results, we must do the work wherever we are.
Now, the main question: Yes, compared to the overall need, the work we’re doing may seem very small. If you were to put it in percentages, it might not even reach 1%. It might not even be 0.1%! But everything starts from one point, and then it gradually expands.
If we keep doing this work, little by little, it will grow. Culture and society will change. Among the members of Congress 60, growth will happen, and eventually, it will reach a point where it becomes noticeable.
Interviewer: It will have a bright future.
Mr. Amin: There’s a saying that relates to the second question you asked: “Others planted, and we ate; we plant, and others will eat.” What we’re doing here—trying to preserve these trees—does it entirely serve to increase our own understanding, or will it also benefit us in some way? Because, honestly, I don’t think we’ll live long enough to see the trees bear fruit.
Does taking care of the future truly serve us in the present moment?
The things that are truly right, and decency, always have a reflection. When you do something, first and foremost, it creates a feeling inside you. The positive feeling that arises within a person is exactly what the members experience during the tree-planting day.
When they go, they recharge. They gain energy, lift their spirits, and their mindset shifts. They plant trees, see each other, spend the day in nature instead of staying at home, feeling down in a corner. They go into nature and engage in physical activity. The feeling they get from that experience speaks for itself.
We’ve received our reward. When you do something kind for someone, like giving them food, they’re happy. When you help someone, they feel joy. When you teach someone something, they feel grateful, and in return, you get a boost, too. You feel good inside. That’s your reward right there.
Now, if this act also has other effects—which it definitely does—it becomes a bonus on top of the reward you received. So, the feeling of doing the right thing is, in itself, the reward. Because when you feel good, when you’re energized, you can channel that energy into other tasks. When you lift your spirits, you can carry that forward. It’s like money—it’s as if energy has been deposited into your account. You’ve gained energy, and now you can do your next tasks even better.
Interviewer: Not planting trees—considering that we’ve made a commitment—does it have consequences? I remember during my first year, I planted trees because I thought, “If I don’t plant them, something bad might happen.”
Mr. Amin: Out of fear (smiles).
Interviewer: I want it to be something that still benefits the person, even if they come out of fear.
Mr. Amin: If someone has destroyed trees or caused damage to nature in the past, they were sick—fine. But now that they’re better, now that their health has improved, if they don’t make up for the damage they caused, then there will be consequences. When you were sick, that’s one thing. But now that you’re better, what’s your excuse?
Now, let’s say there’s someone who hasn’t caused any damage in the past. Still, I’d ask them: Don’t you live on this planet? On this Earth that has given us life? Everything we have is made possible here.
The air we breathe, the oxygen we take in—Earth produces it; the trees produce it. The food we eat, the ability to walk, to live—it’s all given to us by the trees, the plants, by nature.
Hasn’t nature met our needs? Hasn’t it given us life? So now, when we see that nature needs us, shouldn’t we meet its needs?
It’s a responsibility, isn’t it? If we look at it from this perspective, we realize that doing these things is actually our duty. We’re not doing nature a favor.
Mr. Amin: That fear of wrongdoing or fear of consequences might motivate a person temporarily. But eventually, you need to understand why you’re doing something.
If we truly understand this, then all of us should try to participate in this process properly, each in our own way and to the best of our ability.
Interviewer: One last question for this part of our conversation. In previous years, we always asked you and the other watchmen to share a message for those who haven’t joined the tree-planting event yet—something that might encourage them to come.
The common response has always been: “Just try it once.”
But some people don’t feel anything, not even for that one try. They’re indifferent—they neither like nature nor dislike it. There’s just no sense of motivation in them.
Is there something you could say that might inspire even a small spark of interest in them to try it, just once?
Mr. Amin: Well, that’s a good question. Look, Hamed, on the path of life, there are some things we just don’t feel like doing. We’re not in the mood, and we don’t have the energy for them.
But I’ve always looked at it this way: there are two types of people (well, there are always three types, but let’s keep it simple).
The first type only does things when they feel like it. If they’re in the mood, they’ll do it; if not, they won’t.
Then there’s another group of people—those who do what their reason tells them to do. They know something is the right thing to do, even if they’re not in the mood for it.
For example, you might think, “I don’t feel like brushing my teeth.” But reason says, “If you don’t, your teeth will rot and fall out. Get up and brush them.” Or you might skip flossing because you’re not in the mood. Reason still says, “Fine, but in two years, you’ll be stuck at the dentist’s, and it won’t be fun.”
People who can push themselves—even reluctantly—to do what’s right simply because they know it’s the right thing, those are the ones who experience real change. Sometimes they’ll show up frowning or in a bad mood, but they come anyway. And that’s when transformation happens—when you overcome that inner resistance, that bitterness.
So, no—I don’t have a magic injection or a pill to give them. But what I can say is this: push through the reluctance, the bitterness, the discomfort—just try it. You can even start by watching some videos of past events.
Part Two
Mr. Amin: Before we begin, I’d like to highlight that the work done in the camps and the tree-planting section requires significant effort and careful planning. The camp-guard team works tirelessly behind the scenes.
Among the watchmen, especially with the increasing number of branches in various cities, Mr. Asghar Mansouri and Mr. Kamran Sharifian—who both served as watchmen for some time—also play a key role in the tree-planting efforts.
In Tehran, others like Mojtaba, Alireza, Amir, and Reza are putting in a lot of hard work as well. It’s truly a team effort. The agents also get involved, and together with the border guards, they handle a large portion of the work.
Interviewer: Thank you, and I appreciate it.
In the previous interview, you mentioned that if there were any doubts in the earlier questions, we should bring them up in the second part. One of our questions was about how not planting trees has consequences. You gave an explanation and said that if the tree has been harmed, this should be addressed. I wanted to ask if this harm is only about the tree itself, or does it also include the harm we cause to nature—like when we throw our cigarette butts or litter around? Could these actions also be considered harm to the tree, and would they fall under the same category?
Mr. Amin: We don’t really get into the details or complexities of these issues because, if we do, we’ll start talking about branches, then we’ll get into leaves—how many leaves did we pick? How many branches did we break? We can’t keep track of all that, and it would just cause more problems. So, we look at the bigger picture. If you've been out in nature and made it dirty, now it’s your responsibility to help clean it up. That’s the “price” to pay, so to speak. But the main point from the last session was that we have a duty, and we need to do it if we’re looking at things the right way.
The main point is that everything—our breathing, our walking, our life, our food—everything depends on our existence on this planet. And the saying we use in the writings of the camps is: “The Earth’s embrace is a mother.” Just like how a mother cannot neglect her child or the child will die, if we leave a newborn for even a few days, it could perish. A child needs constant care. We are the same. The Earth, even more so, provides everything we need—our breath, water, and all our resources. That’s why it’s our responsibility.
Just like how it’s our duty to support and help our parents, follow their guidance, and carry out their tasks, we have the same kind of relationship with nature. If harm has been done, our planet is suffering—ozone depletion, global warming, gases, pollution—we, as inhabitants of this planet, and as beings whose lives depend on it, see it as our duty to take action in this direction.
Please visit the next post to read the rest of the interview.
Typed by: Companion Parisa R
Translated by: Companion Marjan
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2/25/2025
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