How the Zoo Began

A story by Stephan Blas

For Adi Da Samraj's birthday in 1974, I wanted to give Him a really special gift. With my limited cash budget I went down to Union Street in San Francisco and scoured the array of stores for this "one-of-a-kind" gift, although I had no idea what it might be.

Finally, several hours later, I saw it. There in the window of a classy little pet shop was this incredibly beautiful bird. I had never seen such a creature before and was immediately taken by it. It was an exotic yellow pheasant and I decided that this was the gift I would offer to Adi Da.

Adi Da Samraj

Back at the Sanctuary I had a friend construct an elegant presentation cage, from wooden dowels, in the style of a palanquin. At Adi Da's birthday I carried the small cage into the building, which is now Temple Adi Da (a meditation hall), and offered the pheasant to my beloved master.

He loved it. And soon He was deep into a consideration about these birds, their many varieties, the possibility of breeding them, and on and on. He asked us to build a cage down in the area which is now the zoo. The cage we built was large and high, with lots of plants and plenty of room for the new pheasant and the others soon to come. I quickly found two nice females and then another male--a beautiful Chinese pheasant.

Adi Da Himself quickly became very involved in these animal searches and would actually come with me to look for the birds. He would walk around the different animal farms and bird farms pointing out the individuals He liked. Through this puja we acquired an exquisite imperian pheasant, some white swans, two llamas, some fancy chickens, mini goats, as well as white, green, and blue peacocks!

Adi Da Samraj's love for animals (as well as all beings) and His interest in them, and all the different types and their characteristics, is boundless. His selection of an animal is always a profound spiritual matter which He takes very seriously. His choices are informed by many factors, not least of all each animal's spiritual response to Him. Each animal who is invited, or who chooses, to live at Fear-No-More Zoo has a particular spiritual role or service to perform, often known only to Adi Da Himself.