Within my own family system we practice veneration of those past, and have
received innumerable gifts from this belief.
Lawrence Anthony's elephants' tribute provides so much insight into this
experience. Eimer, thanks for posting that. I know this forum doesn't allow
pictures, but there is a beautiful picture, online, of the elephants outside
Mr. Anthony's house.
Sharon V. Ruvane, MS CCC-SLP RYT
Speech and LanguagePathologist
Registered Yoga Teacher
On Mar 14, 2013, at 7:53 AM, eimear@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx wrote:
This to me speaks to reverence of the dead by the larger Field..
Eimear
www.eimearoneill.com
Special Last Journey
HOW DID THEY KNOW?
SOMETHING IN THE UNIVERSE THAT IS MUCH GREATER AND DEEPER THAN HUMAN
INTELLIGENCE.
THE ELEPHANT'S JOURNEY TO PAY RESPECT, BUT HOW DID THEY KNOW?
Lawrence Anthony, a legend in South Africa and author of 3 books
including the bestseller The Elephant Whisperer, bravely
rescued wildlife and rehabilitated elephants all over the globe from
human atrocities, including the courageous rescue
of Baghdad Zoo animals during US invasion in 2003.
.
On March 7, 2012 Lawrence Anthony died.
He is remembered and missed by his wife, 2 sons, 2 grandsons and
numerous elephants.
Two days after his passing, the wild elephants showed up at his home
led by two large matriarchs.
Separate wild herds arrived in droves to say goodbye to their beloved
man-friend.
A total of 31 elephants had patiently walked over 12 miles to get to
his South African House.
Witnessing this spectacle, humans were obviously in awe not only
because of the supreme intelligence and precise timing that these
elephants sensed about Lawrence 's passing, but also because of the
profound memory and emotion the beloved animals evoked in such an
organized way:
Walking slowly - for days - Making their way in a solemn one-by-one
queue from their habitat to his house.
So, how after Anthony's death, did the reserve's elephants - grazing
miles away in distant parts of the park - know?
"A good man died suddenly," says Rabbi Leila Gal Berner, Ph.D., "and
from miles and miles away, two herds of elephants, sensing that they had
lost a beloved human friend, moved in a solemn, almost 'funereal'
procession to make a call on the bereaved family at the deceased man's
home."
"If there ever were a time, when we can truly sense the wondrous
'interconnectedness of all beings,' it is when we reflect on the
elephants of Thula Thula. A man's heart's stops, and hundreds of
elephants' hearts are grieving. This man's oh-so-abundantly loving heart
offered healing to these elephants, and now, they came to pay loving
homage to their friend."Lawrence's wife, Francoise, was especially
touched, knowing that the elephants had not been to his house prior to
that day for well over 3 years! But yet they knew where they were going.
The elephants obviously wanted to pay their deep respects, honoring
their friend who'd saved their lives - so much respect
that they stayed for 2 days 2 nights without eating anything.
Then one morning, they left, making their long journey back
