Streets of Pondicherry

10/12/02

Flowers are the moment's representation
Of things that are in themselves eternal.
Sri Aurobindo
 

As I walk the once-barren streets of Pondicherry, baking asphalt deserts under a tropic sun, littered with human waste, I am awestruck at the transformation I see today. As I pass under the cooling shade of 'Wisdom' trees and gaze at the brilliant red blooms of 'Realization', before my feet flowers falls carpeting the roads and sidewalks with their multi-colored offerings.

There are fragrances in abundance as well. I stop to admire the bright yellow trumpets of 'Mind' and two other members of the same family, 'Purified Mind' and 'Supramentalised Mind' and gather a few 'Transformation' flowers that once can always find in the early morning. I watch a worker, rather rudely, shake the delicately painted blossoms of 'Aspiration' with their white corolla and orange tube. Hundreds of flowers fall as he shakes the tree and a woman below fills a basket to overflowing with these ephemeral treasures.

There is more, however, much more. 'Spiritual atmosphere' pervades the air, 'Peace in the physical' abounds, 'Supramental action' can be seen here and there, 'Stability in the vital' is in full bloom, 'Health' is abundant as is 'Imagination' with its sweetly fragrant flowers borne in long pendulous racemes.

Truly it is like walking through a living book of flower significances. I see the beautiful 'Intimacy with Universal Nature', not yet in bloom, catch a glimpse of 'Higher mind' and my spirit is filled with the sight of 'Spiritual aspiration' and the heart with 'Adoration'. Even 'Surrender of Falsehood' is before us. It is usually grown as a large shrub but with proper care can be trained as a lovely small tree. As I round the corner I believe I may even have seen the 'New World' in this wonderful journey of the soul on earth. I realize that I have only to look upward and all these splendours await me, crowns of majesty above my head. And there are still more flowers, many that Mother has not named as yet.

Who has wrought this miracle of change? I can hardly imagine or comprehend the courage and effort, the endless red tape and intransigence of civil authorities in granting permission, the propagation from seeds and cuttings of such varied plant material, the nurturing of young plants, pruning, and helping them up to transplanting size, the arduous labour of digging pits, soil preparation including manures and other amendments to feed and nourish , provide essential drainage with optimum moisture holding capacity, the construction of barriers to prevent goats, cows and humans from destroying the delicate saplings, constant monitoring, watering, and the care given to each tree is an awe-inspiring accomplishment.

Further, to realize that this is the vision and essentially the work of one man, is an example of what can be accomplished with a single-minded aspiration and an iron will in offering to the Divine.

Having lived a long lifetime in the presence and companionship of plants and the aspiration of flowers, I wanted to express my deep appreciation for this heroic and dedicated work which shall bring joy to countless generations and will certainly inspire others. He who accomplished this offering of love is named Kabul. He is a child of the Mother.

Notes:

The spiritual significances or messages of the flowers are those given by the `Mother. The botanical names follow the alphabetical listing by significance.
 

Trees absorb the fumes of carbon monoxide and give us oxygen in return. They cool the atmosphere and call the rain, provide shelter and shade, and open us to the beauty of Nature.