Fulfilling that dream took me around the world - from the wooded estates of New Jersey where I played as a child, to the rugged Colorado Rocky Mountains dressed in gold aspen and green pines, to the tranquil waters of Hawaii with its waterfalls and rainbow skies, to the Holy Himalaya with their sacred spaces steeped in tranquility and mysticism - all special places of Nature's glory.
But it wasn't until we came to Kodagu that my dream became reality, SAI (Save Animals Initiative) Sanctuary was established, and I finally found ‘home.' SAI Sanctuary now sprawls across 300 acres of restored wilderness in the Western Ghats of Kodagu.
As I write in that house on the hill with the pond and river below, in the valley filled with wildlife surrounded by mountains cloaked in white shrouds of mist, I reflect on the many lessons learned along the way both practical and spiritual.
Practically, there must be enough land to give refuge to wildlife and enough water to sustain life. You must own the land and not expect governments to protect natural treasures alone, and you must ensure legally that your ‘living legacy' continues long after you are gone.
Spiritually, there is an understanding that Nature is our ‘true home' and the great healer of life - coming into Nature's heart heals our own, that within Nature there is a secret doorway through which one can pass to experience oneness with all creation - an expansion of heart and soul leading to the realisation of our connection, our kinship with all expressions and elements of life.
And finally, believe in your dreams and have faith in the power of Mother Nature to transform dreams into reality.
Pamela Gale Malhotra is the heart and soul behind the breathtaking SAI Sanctuary. Pamela is trained in naturopathy and homeopathy, is a Reiki Master Healer and is a passionate advocate for nature conservation.
Author: Pamela Gale Malhotra, Sanctuary Asia, Vol. XXXV No. 6, June 2015.
