Grow Trees

Sairam friends,

The past one week I have been facing a situation where I neither can’t do anything nor I can keep my mind at peace. There were two huge beautiful trees opposite to our house. These trees gave the entire street a cool environment and pleasing to eyes. We enjoyed the oxygen the trees gave us for over 2 decades. Its shadow covered our house from the morning sun light. We have been benefited by these trees immensely.

Not to mention the people who’s house are situated near these trees enjoyed all the comfort it gave. They are expanding the road’s width in our area and took off most of the area which were in front of our house. I was upset but felt I must accept it and moved on.

Suddenly, they said they Electricity board is going to fix some high power wires in the opposite side, hence they are going to cut trees. By the time I came back from office, they had cut all the branches of huge trees. I am sure its not the EB board alone. These people doesn’t want the trees to harm their compound. Hence they too wanted it to get cut. So its not our government which is spoiling our country. Its also us who doesn’t care for Nature and the lively trees.

I thought at least few leaves will grow from the left over branches. Yesterday, when I returned from office my heart chocked to see the complete tree was cut. This morning they got a tree cutter to cut these into small halves. I can even see the inside part of the trees felt like being wet and its almost like killing a human being. It really hurts me deeply in heart. I thought who knows, may be I myself might be willing to cut a tree in future in the name of development? So I can’t be harsh to these people. They are doing their duty.

My only insecurity now is will Sai make sure the beautiful Neem tree in front of our house be safe for my life time. I can’t bear and will surely take action if someone is planning to cut off the tree in front of our house. I hope it doesn’t happen.

A month back, My Mom was telling me since your sun sign is Vruchika, It means trees. Hence she asked me to do something to take care of trees and encourage people to live in harmony with nature. So every week end, Myself and my father go to the Ganesha temple in our colony, pour lots of water to the Huge Banyan tree and lit a small lamp. I get immense happiness in doing it. The Banyan tree might have roots deep inside to grow. The water I pour may not be necessary for the Banyan tree to grow but it makes me have a good feeling that I am taking care of the beautiful Big tree.

I already made ( A gardening website which I was not able to maintain )in last year and didn’t had time to update content. I will surely make a resource website by interviewing few environmentalists and people who serve to grow trees across the globe. I am not directly planting a tree but I must do something to encourage people to take care of trees and think twice before they cut trees.

Now, lets have another thought. Lets say people buy milk. So milk has a market. Since milk sells, many people who wanted to earn money by selling milk will have Cows and they will bring up cows taking care of them.

We can’t be completely against cutting trees or manufacturing paper also. As long as there’s a market for wooden products and paper,people who wants to earn money by selling trees will plant sapling and grow trees. If there’s no market for wood, then all the land will be sold to other development initiatives.

My humble request is at least plant 2 sapling for every tree that’s been cut and let it grow. Take care of Environment and be in love with Nature.

You know, I have carried huge logs of woods and dropped in Dhuni ( Sacred fire of saibaba) from which we filter the ashes to take UDI. This Udi is offered as prasad to devotees. Sai himself used to buy wooden logs during his life time to burn in the holy Dhuni and offer Udi to devotees.

When ever I offer these huge wooden logs in Dhuni, I used to pray for Mother Goddess. In 2005, I had spent several hours coming around dhuni praying for Nature Goddess. You can read about in below link.

If you know whom I should reach in Coimbatore to protect my beautiful Neem tree incase these people plan to cut it, kindly mail me. I read in the article that we must contact Assistant Conservator of Forests. I honestly don’t know how these process work. I only can pray Saibaba that the Neem tree in front of our house survives even after I am no more. The Neem tree in Shirdi under which Sai appeared as a 16 year old boy is still alive and kept safe.

When Buti wada ( The present Samadhi Mandhir) was build, a huge branch was protruding in the are they had planned a wall. They asked Sai’s permission if it can be cut. Sai approved them saying “If something has to be cut for good, let it be cut”

The Same Sai has spent years planting Thulasi plants and watering them every single day. Sai’s love for nature is expressed  in many incidents during his life time. So Sai neither prevents growth nor lets the Nature suffer. We must do our best to take care of our environment and learn to live in harmony with Nature.

I am really having  a unknown fear and pain in my heart Sai. Please keep the Neem tree safe. I love it dearly.

Love,

Venkat