Light of Nonviolence

Author(s): Sushilmuni
Publisher: Vishwa Ahimsa Sangh Delhi

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heard about the trees but they did not know where to find them. So we went to a village near the forest and a man who had great knowledge of herbs and plants and trees, told us that he could take us to where the alkhad tree grew.
“But, first,” he said, “You must put coconut oil on your skin, since the oil will protect you from the poison.”
I did not use the oil although the forest ranger and the businessman did. When the villager took us to the forest where the alkhad trees grew, he stopped and pointed in the direction of the trees and told us that he would go no further.
The business man then offered the villager 500 rupees to take us all the way to the trees. But the villager replied, quite fearfully, “I would not take you for 5,000 rupees! For if I go, I will become very sick and may even die.”
Before we went into the forest, the business man, the forest ranger and I meditated for several minutes in order to get the clear feeling of oneness with nature and the alkhad tree. Together, we walked to the alkhad trees while the villagers watched us from a safe distance. When we reached the trees, I could see the milky poison on the leaves but there was no wind to carry it anywhere. And I said, in my mind,
“Tree, I love you and you are from the same Self and Life-force that I am. We are like one being. We are
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