Freedom in the Zoo
Posted by: Tejaswini
on Aug 30, 2011 
“Nobody’s free until everybody’s free.” ~ Fannie Lou Hamer, American civil rights activist, 1917-1977. (Some sources credit this quote to Martin Luther King, Jr.) When I reflect upon how everything and everyone is interconnected in one continuous web of energy and vibration, I really deeply understand the truth that no one will be free until everyone is free. I recently visited a city zoo and my experience there with the birds got me thinking about freedom.
While passing the rather smallish cages containing pairs of large birds, I really studied their facial expressions and overall energies. As a Reiki practitioner (see my new business page, www.RadianceRisingReiki.com), and as a Raja yogini, I tend to see beneath the surface of people and things. The melancholic look in the eyes of the turkey vultures saddened my heart. The energy of depression around the majestic bald eagles was almost too much to bear. And then, the anguish of despair in the faces of the red-tailed hawks hit a deep chord of compassion in me. Spontaneously, I began talking with them. I said, “Try to make the best of it. Think of Nelson Mandela, and all those years he spent in prison.” I’m a bit teary as I type that last sentence.
So then, after all that, we came to a building in which this pair of blue macaws were chattering away on top of a barrel… and I marveled that they were not at all depressed. On the contrary, they didn’t seem to even know that they were confined in a zoo. It was as if they knew that they were free on the inside, no matter what external environment they might be placed in. It was such a delight to witness their happiness.
Now that is something to contemplate!
May all beings be free inside themselves, no matter what is going on around them.
Om Shanti (Peace),
Yogini Tejaswini
Photo of blue macaws in zoo taken by Teja Shankara.
Subscribe to this comment's feedI love all your blogs (and look forward to them) but this one touches me because of the synchronicity. Recently, I have been going through my own caged bird syndrome and complaining "what about me?". The selfishness of that question and the unending answers and stories just make me want to puke sometimes. And then I gather my Buddhist tendencies and start to have compassion for myself. Then I read a quote from Sri Mata Amritanandamayi that I will paraphrase. She advised to choose just one quality/virtue to work on and all others will naturally follow. I know I have a lot to work on in myself. I try to balance that with a healthy self-esteem which I know is also important, and it is not always easy to take care of ourselves- especially if we are healers or caretakers. Nevertheless, after pondering and self reflection I was determined to come up with just ONE virtue to focus on. There are so many to choose from... ha ha. I have decided upon acceptance. Amma explains this as saying yes! to life no matter what is happening. So this virtue encompasses the negation of complaining, focusing on the positive, having faith that whatever is happening is for the good and is God's wish, as well as (fingers crossed) will help with all these reactions of anger within me. I am willing to experiment- and continue to use the teachings of Thich Naht Hahn to cool the flames and "take care of the anger." In the spirit of acceptance, I see that anger has manifested in my children as a natural response to stress in life. I will look to the positive and continue to take it as a learning experience and an opportunity to teach peace within and and teach a heritage of peace. Om Shanti Shanti Shanti
much love to you, dear sister.
Thanks for your continual teachings. strivings and sharings. You are an inspiration.
-kate
