On alms, hearing cutting at the mountain foot behind the village hall, Atna went up. Soon meeting a young men, maybe 20 years and brother, maybe 13 year, cutting 15-25 years old trees for coal burning. "Why do you cut the forest here?" "It's my land", the son of a former generous single poor Sui native told.
Starting to explain the impacts, destruction, selfharm and lose by cutting one's own future, feet away. The lose of concentration by doing harmful, making one incapable to learn or work good... the young man soon understood doubtless. "Yes, Venerable grandfather. I stop already. It's much better to make gardening, planting, plantation work from now on.
Approving his decision, Atma walked on, gone some meter, "thinking why not ask", Atma returned and asked him.
For example: If the is the case that a person whould come and say: "hey, I want to rent 1ha of your 1,5 ha forest land, just to let trees grow, stopping cutting and harming, burning and killing. So you might get more freedom to learn something to do good work and leave the place for Devas and other beings to live. For example, if one comes, would liberaly give you 50 or 100$ a month to stop cutting, let forest grow on your land, to keep precepts and go after good learning work, as you like, would you take it, would you agree such a promis?"
"That seens to be not proper to take such. I feel ashamed."
Atma asked: "Why feel a shamed when honored for doing good and helpful for all? Why don't feel ashamed to do wrong, harm, hurt all other and take not given?" Pointing on the bowl: "It's not improper to receive alms when going after harmless, having mettafor all and progress toward freedom from debts"
Repeated 2 times. The young respectfull son of native mother and khmer rouge soldier father, who might no more be near, got back light in his mind and rejoiced by a posdible good way, that leads to freedom from debt"
Telling him that Atma whould just share his possible agreement on such a deal, and that it's total not in the power or hand of Atma, but a matter of nissaya toward good. Nothing for sure, but good comes along when sacrificing good at first, quick or later, but for sure.
So here you are: your choices, on inspirations.
Whatdoes the imagine of being able to help keeping 1ha forest land in the heart of the olders Dhammic kingdom, the last refuge of scared being, and support of a young Naga-child to go on good ways cause for you? Just such thought now, not to speak on nurishing later on it, for ways of release, reflecting own goodness for long?
Even till this point, listening, rejoice in ways of good, the two young man toward made huge merits, of which they also saw and valued with "Sadhu", as Atma left.
Does one feel inspired to rent peace, lease way for release? Just try to meet him, or others, like a like, if wishing for a contract without string bond back into the world.
Wishing the old Khema (Khmer, peaceful) tradition survive the increasing flood of red?