03/03/2023
*Fallen Flowers*
Walking is a normal activity. But the beauty of walking is that I see life happening around me. Every morning, I would see an elderly gentleman picking up flowers fallen under a tree and placing them in a basket prepared to visit the temple. His activity was making me curious.
One morning, I saw him again and decided to put my curiosity to rest, about why he picked up fallen flowers while other elderly people pluck fresh flowers.
I asked him, "Sir, I always see you picking up these freshly fallen flowers from the ground. What do you do with them?"
"I offer these flowers at the feet of the deities in the temple at home," he answered very calmly.
This was the first time I had heard something like this. So, I asked him again, "If you don't mind, may I ask why you offer fallen flowers to God when there are so many flowers on the tree?"
"I help the flowers fulfill their purpose - of being with God in their last days. They have life too; like us, they also want to be with God in their final days, don't they?" he asked me. I nodded.
Then he said, "Some people pluck buds that have not yet bloomed and some only pluck buds that have just blossomed, not even letting them release their fragrance or live their lives. Everyone takes what is beautiful and takes away the plant's beauty from it. See then, how these plants look - colorless and deserted."
He continued, "Every flower has a purpose, to be with God. While everyone takes the flowers that are still on the plants, I do not choose those. It is not the flowers' fault that they fell off. They also deserve to be with God. You should try it too, it will give you peace and happiness...just as it gives me. I cannot support anyone in this old age, but I can at least help these flowers achieve their goal."
*Moral 😗
*In life, we always want to be around good and beautiful people. We want to see ourselves with people who are of our stature, and those who are below our stature, we want to see them below us. But, the real satisfaction comes when we help someone, make their life better & help them celebrate abundance of Joy & Happiness - Be it human, animal, bird or any other form of life.So why not flowers? Fallen followers?*