Letter to Devika

Devika,

Haven't been in a writing mood these days, but wanted to share one more thing with you...for what it's worth!

Two weeks ago I lost Cocktail (our Cockatiel) who the kids and I had for the past 7-8 years. It was more painful than losing Prince, since it was sudden and unexpected… and in some ways my fault, since I inadvertently left his cage open after a cleaning. With Prince, it was inevitable that he was going, so I was well prepared.

Cocktail and I had a wonderful relationship! Whenever I would open his cage door he would eventually fly onto my shoulder (or top of my head) and stay there for as long as I'd let him. We would talk to one another in the way that you do when you've had a pet for a long time and you really get to know one another.

Well, when Cocktail's life came to its sudden and traumatic end I was initially torn up inside. The only thing I could do was to gather up all his feathers and find a nice spot in the garden to bury him. I massaged khus oil onto his feet, which allowed me to gently remove his silver band. In doing so, I sensed that he was finally being set free. So- with candle, incense, flowers and bell I sat on the ground next to his burial place in the garden singing the Guru Gita.

As I did so I began to contemplate what was really going on- where exactly was Cocktail and what was the effect of these
rituals I was in the midst of performing? I reasoned that his lifeless body was in the ground, but where was the Cocktail that I'd come to know and love? As I continued with my Guru Gita, it dawned on me where Cocktail was! He existed in my mind and no other place! This came to me with a conviction that was profound, and which dispelled my grief. What then I asked myself, was the result of my chanting and candle lighting and incense waving and bell ringing, etc.? Was I doing it for Cocktail's soul or was I doing it for my own peace of mind?

As a result, I began to see that my world exists only in my mind... as a vast field consisting of a thousand thought forms, complicated by the various emotions I ascribe to each! As if to test this 'theory' I began to look at the various people in my life that are dearest to me. Could I apply the same standard to them? If I were to suddenly find that I had lost any one of them could I maintain the same understanding and awareness I'm now experiencing with Cocktail? Although I will never know for sure unless and until I'm actually confronted with that situation, never the less I could feel the Truth of it in this awareness. I can almost see Baba’s smiling face as he refers me to the Yoga Vasishta and nods his head in approval!

The next morning as I was watering the garden, a beautiful small bird flew down to bath in the stream of water that feeds our pond a short distance from where I stood. I had the feeling that this bird had come to entertain me! I'd never seen this kind of bird before, and although his coloration was a non-descript brown, he had a beautiful yellow stripe on his tail that reminded me at once of Cocktail! My first thought was that Cocktail was coming to visit me- to perform this little water dance- and then a beautiful red-headed woodpecker came out of nowhere to land on the trunk of a nearby tree. As I gazed around I saw that it was Nature itself that was performing for me. In that moment I realized that when you honor Nature; Nature in turn honors you!

So my dear Devika, thank you once again for your kind and sweet words! I thought of writing this story when it happened but like I said, I've not been in a writing mood of late. You seem to have brought this one out- so thanks! I did want to share it.

Much love to you, and if I get to Hawaii one of these days I'll make sure we can see each other. Bye for now...

yogi