Demise of a Mango Leaf

Demise of a Leaf

When I was watching the mango tree in a rainy day from my 4^th floor, I saw a new green young mango Leaf falling down due to heavy wind and rain. Most of the old leaves still remained intact and the young leaf fell on the lap of an older leaf and slipped off. Though the tree was trying to protect it’s new leaves by trying to remain steady against wind as much as possible, it could not, and became helpless against the fury of nature. As the mother was watching, the green young leaves fell one by one as it was more exposed to the wind compared to the older one. Again I saw, from the wound, I could see drops of tears falling down. I looked more intensely and understood that these tears were not only from the mother but more from the older siblings who could not bear the youngster’s untimely death. I also saw another old dry leaf falling down, but surprisingly no tears were shed. Probably because that leaf would have lived its full life.

As I continued to enjoy the rain and wind, some thoughts passed through my mind. Like a small leaf, a baby is grown up with the breast milk. The benefits of breast milk, were well known to parents right from the inception of mankind.. The logic and science of this was not known to them. Today Science and technology gives us the logic behind all these advises and principles. A ripened coconut can be identified by only practical wisdom and not by simple theory. Monkeys acquire this knowledge from their parents and they respect their parents for these knowledge because later this becomes their survival factor. Some of these experiences cannot be taught in internet or in classes. It is to be seen, observed and learned.. A person who would like to swim need to have trainer or an experienced swimmer along with him. Because many times the naïve swimmer cannot gauge the currents underneath and the muddy bottom of a pond.

Elephants are the best example for the respect they give to elders.I understand that, In times of scarcity of water, all elephants including the boisterous youngsters would religiously follow the matriarch elephant to a unknown distant place. This long journey for water to such a unseen place can be disastrous, if the matriarch leads them to a wrong destination. It appears the knowledge of the matriarch about such a water source which the herd never visited before its life time is based on the information it received from earlier generation. Just a belief saves the entire herd. Adverse arguments against experience is futile, rather trying finding the logic through the science and technology is wisdom.

……………….Rain continued to lash in full force.. and as I was turning down,I remembered Jesus first commandment “ Honor Your father and Mother”. if only the young leaf understood ….the bend of the elder leaf against the wind…..not mocking it as a mark of age…………..Demise of a Mango Leaf