The oldest Abrahamic faith is akin to a farm. They grow one crop through methods clearly specified in their manual. What to do and what not to do - the kosher and the treif or pasul are all spelled out in their manual.

There are two other adjacent farms. Each of these also has a manual of its own to guide the sowing and tending of their specified crop. As with the oldest farm manual, theirs also specifies the Holy and unholy, the halal and haraam.

Their manuals do refer to the oldest farm here and there, but each of these two is against the other farms. They would do anything to extend their farm into the other's territory.

The land where these farms exist were forested areas once. Greeks, Romans, Mayans, Incans, so many others had their forests where they dwelt amidst myriad trees and fruits, with many 'gods' which usually reflected the powers of natural elements that kept their farms alive. The farmers of the latter two farms uprooted these forests and started their own single crop farms in their place.

There is one large forest still standing. It is an ancient forest, much older than the three farms, hiding many secrets. Once its spread was much vaster. Over time, a lot of its territory was cleared by these farmers and converted to their farmland.

Despite the depredations, to the dismay, annoyance and surprise of these two sets of farmers, a large area of this forest still flourishes. They are constantly eyeing this forest which they want to turn into their farmland by hook or by crook. They use money power, violence, sleight of hand and so many other tricks in pursuit of their greed for this forest land.

Inside this forest, there are many different trees, many plants and many colourful flowers. There are myriad deities, each considered holy in its own way, that are worshipped by the denizens of these forests. At the apex, there is just one Divine whose diverse forms are reflected in popular imagery and stories prevailing in the forest.

The single crop farmers are perplexed by the diversity of the forest. With their single crop mindset, they cannot understand how so many different kinds of flora can exist in one place. They consider this against the diktats of their manuals and they keep defaming the forest. They do not have any idea of the method underlying the seeming disorder here. They consider it chaos.

These farm-keeprs do not realise that there is unity in the diversity here and the roots are all interconnected, like a widespread mycorrhizal network, making the forest one giant organism beneath the surface. This network is sustained not by a single manual but by many ancient texts, each reflecting some aspect of the Divine way to tend this amazing forest. These texts appreciate the diverse flora. They do not give one prescription for everyone tree or plant but they recognise that different trees and plants have different needs and cater to each one in a way that suits it best.

Lately, the keepers of this forest have woken up and have started energetically challenging the aggressive efforts of the keepers of the latter two farms to encroach upon patches of this forest. This has not sat well with the would-be encroachers and they use their captive media to spread rumours about how 'intolerant' the forest dwellers are. The irony escapes them. There is no one more intolerant than these encroachers, some going so far as to kill anyone on their farm land who wishes to grow anything not specified in their own manual.

This is where things stand at this time. As a denizen of this forest, I find immense peace here. No one tells me what to grow, or how to tend the trees and plants in my forest. I live as I wish with no one looking over my shoulder and judging me. I feel free and have peace of mind.

I do hope the world recognises the beauty and depth of my forest and appreciates the great inner wealth and wisdom that exists here. We welcome everyone who wishes to live the life of a forest dweller and none who wish to raze our forest and start farming their own crop as per their manual.

Kishore Asthana

kishore.asthana@gmail.com