The Circumambient Cetacean: 05/01/07

Tuesday, May 1, 2007

DREAMSCAPE

Dreamscape ! Its not an escape into the world of dreams, as we know it. Dreamscape is more than that- its a word for lives linked through dreams. Dreamscape is the tunnel of willful desire that makes way for one life to be linked with another. Lives which seemingly are far apart.It takes birth in the conscious but works on the subconscious level.

Dreamscape is the reason Papa and I met, because ultimately we both had to meet you and through you some most important beings that would change our lives.

We met you 22 years back on a grimy October morning, and I am not ashamed to say that was the last thing I wanted to do after the arduous labour. On the way things changed. All 3 of us started to grow up together, through experiences that were new to all the three of us and taught us the same lessons in pain and pleasure. We learnt that every graph has a downslide but then the peak is always there. Its not something that you appreciated at that moment, but we tried to teach you that BEING is much more than HAVING, that all jobs enrich you with experiences, even the ones you feel are killing you and to look at the man on a crutch when you desperately need new shoes.

We learnt that animals could be more humane than humans. Dreamscape linked you to Cleo when you decided to bring her home. Not the most pretty looking dog, she had the most beautiful eyes, and taught us to love unconditionally. We learnt to love the spirit of a being whose body was looked down by the world. She showed us how to fight back .And she prepared us for losing to death the people we love.

Dreamscape made you and Papa take the decision of not accepting your course in Veterinary medicines, and of accepting the Biodiversity course, because we were yet to meet the apple of our eyes. Thank God for that decision, today we have the best son in law in the world, and I personally never miss a chance to show him off. He is the son I never had.

Of course we met Kishu and Mau through dreamscape, how on earth can you describe the way all related to them the instant we saw and heard about them? After all, thousands of animals have passed through our lives over the years. And both of them turned out to be extra special, someone we knew from our past lives.

Dreamscape is still at work, Papa and I are waiting to meet that very special person at the end of the tunnel, someday.

Till then, work hard, pray harder and make a life, not a livelihood.

And then there was SPLASH !!!

I would like to contribute this blog to a very special guy. He's young, he's a handsome bugger (I fall for him every time I see him) and well yeah - he's a dolphin. People call him splash, but when Im with him I start talking weird mush like-ooo my coshie baboo googly woogly wiggly fishy poo...of course unheard by my colleagues. Unfortunately for Splash, he has to tolerate this kind of crap, and Ive often noticed him looking elsewhere when I go into the mush mode...:-) He is the inspiration for the name of my blog for he is THE CIRCUMAMBIENT CETACEAN. At any given point I can see him at multiple points of the enclosure (I wish he was a free dolphin), and it makes me wonder how freaky he would get if he was out in the opean ocean. He moves like a jet propelled rocket, zig zagging everywhere till he finally sees his trainers rubber footwear. Then his antics begin. He pushes his face out of the water, and then slowly pushes himself onto the pontule and keeps nudging his trainer, till he gets her attention and the much awaited fish/es. He can be exasperating at times for much unlike popular notion about dolphins being the nice good humored obedient animals that they generally are, Splash is an exception to the general rule and believe me it is TOUGH to train an animal with a size nine brain working overtime, an animal who has no respect for stillness, an animal who worships the very notion of motion.
But with all his crazy behavioral symptoms, and his absolute denouncement of everthing conventional as far as dolphins go, he's just a baby. And with all of his imperfections, he's adorable beyond words. He's one of those specail animals that touch one's life and remain etched in one's memories. SPLASH is. And always will be. To Splash ! The dolphin with a difference!

Animal Instincts...to love, protect and cherish.

We are all animals. Bipedal humans, crawling lizards and insects, quadruped canines and felines, graceful cetaceans...All of us are living breathing sentient creations of the one Master Hand...Who then is Man to differentiate? to categorize? Sure man has a complex brain and is highest on the earthly evolutionary plane...but that doesnt give him the authority over the others and it definitely doesnt change the fact that all sentient beings FEEL and emote. A 21 year old adolescent facing the final stages of burkitts leukaemia moans and screams in pain and agony caused by tha various procedures he has to go through to buy him a few more days. In much the same way, the eyes of a terror stricken goat en route to slaughter or having his throat cut slowly while the others watch, or the rapid movements of the crescograph when a leaf is torn off a plant.....they all point to the same thing. WE ALL FEEL PAIN.
Since I was little, I have been fascinated by animal life in all its varied forms and beauty and the fascination grows each day. And with it, the sense of fairplay and equanimity that is so deeply ingrained in me, surfaces more and more each day while I witness the gruesome injustice that is meted out to our companions.
However I also find solace in knwoing that there are so many out there like me, who love animals for what they are, for their sakes alone. Who are fighting tooth and nail to get them justice. Who are fighting so many odds each day to heal the hurt and prevent the pain. Selfless veterinarians, honest wildlife officials and the many many many field workers who are out there silently protecting and soothing our animal friends.
I am not devoid of hope. On the contrary I live in hope. Hope of a more joyous future, when there will be love among all life's creatures...not just among humans. when children will grow up to become conscientious human beings and treat animals and all other forms of life with the much deserved respect, awe and admiration.
The Circumambient Cetacean (TCC) was started as a tribute to my mother, but I now honor all the honorable men and women like her who are out there loving and working for animals. God bless you all.
For people like my mother, my father, Dr and Mrs Chariar, and the many many more who strive day in and out to protect and serve this cause, I LIVE IN HOPE.

Twinky's Animal Bookshelf