These Trees
The three of us, Angelo, Ananda Rupa and I, took to the
sidewalk along Main highway. The name is somewhat misleading, it’s only a
two lane expanse of asphalt in the Coconut Grove area, and it runs along the
Atlantic Ocean, separated by a lean stretch of land with high end properties
and private schools. Our guru, Srila Prabhupada, had strolled here on
this very sidewalk under the banyan trees. Nice place. “Trees” was
the topic of our discussion. In regards to the story of the pracetas, yogis,
who had submerged themselves in water, as their venue for meditation.
They came out of the water after an extended time of trance, and noticed that
the land they once knew was overgrown by trees. They then arranged for
clearing these forests, and like most projects conducted by man, it was taken
to the extreme. The moon objected to the destruction, to quote, “Soma,
the king of the moon and the king of all vegetation, forbade the pracetas (from
further destruction) since they, the trees, are the source of food for all.”
Trees are so essential for our sustenance in so many
ways. As the day rolled out, the trees at Cocounut Grove at Virginia
Street, provided a welcoming shade for our mini Festival of Chariots. The
sun was baking us alive, so we, the participants, took shelter of the coconut
trees as the deities of Jagannatha, Baladeva and Subhadra, were carried out by
priests. The kirtan resounded and was energetic. I did tolerate
some tone deaf chanting leaders. There was a glorious comment that came
out by a Catholic mother of one of our devotees. She was told that this
drumming and singing was our version of high mass. She found it quite
lively.
Our brief procession culminated under the shady mango tree,
where dance, song and slide show, were on display on a stage. Once again,
the tree did so much to offer relief to our situation. God bless our
trees.
May the Source be with you!
6 KM
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