I received the following from a friend who knows my love of animals. Thought
I'd send it out just to jog everyone's appraisal of the interrelationships
between species/states of energy/points of incarnation...
THIS IS AN AMAZING STORY. VERY HEARTWARMING!
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.