Chapter 13

     For the first week of her training Mati thought her head would burst. In the morning the sage would give her facts to memorize, and then he would send her into the forest to discover more facts for herself.

     She learned how long it took each kind of tree to carry water from the soil all the way to its highest branches. She learned how fast each kind of tree gave off moisture and how fast it took in energy from the sun. She learned when trees were full of energy and when they were not, and she learned what percentage of forest land was covered with which type of tree. She learned how many animals, birds and insects lived in which kind of tree and how much their actions helped or hurt the tree.

     Mati was such a good student that she soon knew a great deal about trees. She was proud of her knowledge, so it was disappointing to be told by Roti Baba at the end of the week, “Now you are ready to begin learning.”

     At the start of the second week the sage told Mati she was not allowed to think about numbers. He said that if she talked about one single number he would throw roti at her. And then he sent her into the forest to meditate on the Banyan Verses from morning to night.

The Banyan Verses

A banyan tree grows in the forest.

Its many roots go

deep into the

moist soil.

But why does Banyan

drink?

Laugh like a brook,

water!

Shine like silver!

Rise

through root

trunk

branch

leaf

sky.

But why does Banyan

drink?

     Mati was in trouble. She found this meditation very hard. She asked Roti Baba, “How many litres of water are entering the tree per hour?” but he yelled, “When you drink, drink!” and threw a big piece of roti at her.

     All day long Mati would stay in the forest trying to meditate on these verses. She would sit, walk, lie down, even run. She would be hot and she would be tired. But mostly she would be bored. So bored she could scream. “I used to think life in the palace was boring. At least then I could go and read a book about mathematics. Nothing is as boring as this! The Banyan Verses will drive me crazy!”

     When night came and it was time to sleep Roti Baba would send Mati to a deep bed of leaves and he would pile more leaves on top of her. She would lie there feeling itchy, picturing the banyan tree.

     On the morning of the day before the sage had to leave Mati came to him in a daze. She had leaves in her hair and her eyes looked like the eyes of a sleepwalker. She had not washed in the stream or recited verses or paid attention to rose-apples and roti.

     “Have you finally learned something?” said Roti Baba.

     “A tree in my dream–a tree was trying to talk to me.”

     “What did it say?”

     “I don’t know.”

     “Ha! You’re still dreaming! Go back to the forest and listen!”

     Mati went deep into the forest. She stayed there all day and all night.

     On the morning of his departure, just after the sadhu had spoken to Satya, Mati ran into camp. Jaya was cooking over the fire. He was startled at Mati’s wild look.

     “They are!” she said breathlessly.

     Roti Baba walked up to her and looked her in the eyes. “They are what?”

     “Thirsty! Holy One, Banyan drinks because Banyan is thirsty. The trees feel it! They feel thirst! They feel cold and heat! They feel the wind! Holy One, they are as alive as we are!”

     “So tell them you know! Tell them you’re starting to wake up. Call them by the name they use for themselves: the Steady Ones. Maybe someday they’ll tell you your own name.”

     And Mati ran into the woods, crying, “Steady Ones! Thank you! Thank you for telling me the secret! You feel the wind! You feel the rain! Forgive me for not knowing!”

     And the wind carried Mati’s voice through the forest.