As part of the Interfaith Forest of Bliss campaign, members of Sikh, Baha’i, Christian, and Jewish faith communities planted eight trees in Graves Park.  Eight trees were planted to commemorate both a commitment to fight climate change through reforestation efforts and to remember those who have lost their lives to COVID 19. The trees included two Skyline Honey Locusts, and one each Common Hackberry. Sensation Box Elder, Chinese Pistache, Modesto Ash, Bigtooth Maple and Modesto Locust. Here is a video, followed by the text of a reflection offered by Ahiran Singh, a member of the Albuquerque Sikh Gurdwara.

 

A Reflection by Ahiran Singh

We are here today to both plant these trees, but also to remember those who have been lost to Covid 19.

We have placed rocks, as part of the Jewish tradition, a part of this commemoration.  The poems of the Sikh Gurus also contain many references to stones.

The first Guru, Nanak Dev, prayed that God take pity on him and shower him with mercy. He wrote that “I am a sinking stone, please carry me across (SGGS, p. 156)

Nanak likens our existence, our journey through this life, as a terrifying “world ocean,” in which must cross from this shore to the next shore. As the pandemic reminds us all, the crossing can be perilous and fraught with danger. We are not guaranteed any amount of time on Earth.

As part of our Karma, the act of life itself is a kind of weightiness, our actions in this world make us heavy and dense. And, as we know, stones do not float. The question can then be asked: How do stones float?

The fifth Guru, Arjan Dev, gives us the answer, saying that “Remembering God in meditation, sinking stones are made to float.”  (SGGS, p. 182). But how?

Echoing his earlier statements, Guru Ram Daas, remarks that “ham paathar gur naav bikh bhavjal taareeai ram,” I am a stone in the boat of the Guru, please carry me across the terrifying ocean (SGGs, pl 1113).

In this example, something is needed that is bouyant, that is capable of making the crossing. Guru Ram Das offers the metaphor of the boat, made of wood that supports the weight of the stone and carries us across.

Altogether, these words remind us that life is perilous, that we need help to navigate through this existence.  Partly, this could be achieved through faith, but also through community. Today, as we plant and remember, let us also remember that together, acting in faith, we can all make it across to the other shore.