My dear ones you are shocked that I am writing about theft. It is such a strong word. It came to my mind when I was looking at my orchid in my apartment in Yoga Vidya. I feel very proud of it, and it looks so graceful. In India, in New Delhi where I live people pluck flowers for their early morning prayers. They like to offer fragrant smelling flowers to the deity. I admire this ritual, I myself do not offer flowers as I feel that their fragrance and beauty should be shared by humans and the birds.

We have many fragrant flowers in our communal garden, and many are favorites of the Gods. There is Jasmine (Mogra), Arabian Jasmine (Bela) and some other flowers, which grow in the garden. I had also planted a Stone apple (Bel) tree, the leaves of which are offered to Shiva. We even had some marigolds in pots. The plants were flowering and then the flowers were missing. People were coming into the garden and plucking the flowers.

What if the plants dies?

I caught someone and asked him, “What are you doing?” He replied very arrogantly, “I am plucking flowers for my puja.” I was so shocked, that I was silenced. Then I said that they were not his flowers to pluck and firstly, he had to ask. If he plucked all the flowers, the plants would be bare and bereft. He went off grumbling. Anyways I prevented the theft happening again. Next the Stone apple tree was the target and the thief, can I call him that. He came at dawn daily until the poor plant had no leaves left. The Bel tree died.

There are signs in all parks that one should not pluck the flowers. One can buy flowers from Flower sellers and they even deliver to the home.

Is it okay to steal flowers for our daily prayers? Is it okay to strip the holy Basle and Bel of its leaves? We can offer mental flowers. How to convince flower thieves, that though their motives are pure, their intent is not and that they are stealing? I am quite fearless, but I do not like to speak to such people as they only understand their motive.

Is theft ever justified? There are rare instances where the action is justified, such as survival.

Aim Hrim Klim

Photo by Geraldine Dukes on Unsplash