My journey began with a Sri Krishnaji & Youth(SKY) session, where Sri Krishnaji mentioned about how we must be like a tree. There is so much that humans have to learn from Trees.
• Trees are resilient.
• Trees are in the state of Unself.
• A seed grows into a huge tree without making any noise.
• Trees are one with nature and support other life forms.
• Trees are rooted firmly to the earth and even communicate with other trees through their roots.
I was very excited to participate in “A Walk to Remember” by the Lokaa Foundation. We had a WhatsApp group in which one photograph was shared every day and we had to share our thoughts and emotions that those pictures evoke.
The first photograph was that of an Alli tree. Initially, I did not know what tree this was. But on further research, I found out more about the Alli tree. This tree is native to India and found mostly on hilly areas. They have these beautiful blue/violet flowers and also have various medicinal properties. Unfortunately this tree is endangered and on the verge of extinction due to widespread habitat depletion.
Another photograph shared on the group was that of a termite hill on a tree. This shows how trees are one with nature and support other lifeforms. Normally, humans consider termites to be harmful and dangerous that can cause damage to their property. But in the natural world, termites help in breaking down dead trees, supplying nutrients that replenish the soil and are essential to the health of forests. In this way, trees and termites live in harmony with each other.
I began to develop a connection towards trees and even shared the insights I got from the Whatsapp group with my mother. She shared her views on how unlike humans, trees are not self-conscious and don’t complain when their leaves dry out and wither or when insects like caterpillars feed on their leaves as shown in these photographs that I took just outside my home.
Trees accept this as part of nature. This shows how trees are resilient by absorbing and adapting to disturbances such as climate change and attacks by pests and diseases.
I arrived a day before the “A Walk to Remember” event at Ananda campus, where our accommodation was arranged. What immediately caught my attention were the rows of trees along both sides of the path which gave a very soothing and welcoming aesthetic to the campus. One side of the campus was filled with mango trees that bore plenty of mangoes.
I spent the rest of the day exploring the campus along with few other participants, admiring every single tree I saw. One of the participant stopped in front of a tree and shared how she felt a special connection with that particular tree. She had developed a bond with that tree previously and had even named the tree after her sister. It was very touching to hear her experience with this tree and I realized how trees can help us connect to our loved ones and also comfort us when we are in a suffering state.
We began the next day with a visit to the village of Santhoshapuram, where we were welcomed with love by the children of the village. We were then introduced to the Lokaa Foundation, it’s vision and the importance of sustainability to ensure a better future. Anandagiri Ji also spoke about how the key to sustainabilty is us humans and how we need to live in harmony with nature.
We then started our walk through the forest towards the village of Krishnapuram. I continued to admire the wide variety of trees that I came across on the way, from small trees like the Alli tree and Dwarf Date Palms from which children joyfully picked and ate its fruits, to Eucalyptus trees that towered above us and seemed as though they touched the sky. We also could find shade from the scorching heat under the trees where we also stopped for lunch.
Although the entire walk took about 3 hours, I never felt even a little tired especially considering the time of the day when the temperature is at its peak.
The village of Krishnapuram welcomed us with love and happiness. A row of huge Laterite rocks stood on one side of the village entrance, which the villagers considered sacred. We were then escorted to their temples, particularly one that stood beside a perinneal spring. The atmosphere there felt peaceful and I was constantly in a state of bliss.
Later in the evening, we were served dinner that the villagers prepared with love. They also demonstrated various sustainable practices like the making of eco-friendly and chemical-free soaps and detergents, sun-baked mud bricks and leaf plates. It was an inspiring experience to witness their lifestyle and there is so much to learn from them.
Krishnapuram is definitely a living example of how humans can live in harmony with nature. The villagers made us feel like we were a part of them. Krishnapuram to me, very much resembles a tree. As Anandagiri Ji says, Krishnapuram is not just a village, its an idea, that began from a seed and is now growing into a tree with its roots anchored deep into Mother Earth only taking what it requires to grow while also supporting and giving back to nature. We must ensure that this tree keeps growing, spreading its branches and provides us with fruits of love, wisdom and joy.
The whole journey is one that I will always cherish. However, the best part was when every participant was presented with a memento that was an envelope which consisted of a letter of appreciation, a postcard and a drawing made by the children of the village. It was an emotional moment for me to see the children handing over the envelopes to each participant. When I received my envelope, I opened it and I was left speechless. Both the postcard photograph and drawing were that of Trees. It was like the cherry on the cake as my entire journey I had been connecting with trees. Those words by Sri Krishnaji once again resonated in my heart-
“BE LIKE A TREE”
Find the author: @karun.suresh_ (Instagram)