Elephant Rock at Valley of Fire State Park, Nevada This massive rock shaped by wind, fire, and rain, charges forward like Ganesha, the Elephant God that removes all obstacles. His legs rooted to the deep caverns of earth, his trunk drinking up vast clouds of heaven, and before him, a cluster of daisies. A wild elephant trampled 44 villagers to death in India last month, but here in this valley I see the 12th-century sage of Elephant Mountain, Lu Hsiang-Shan, lecturing to his students— “The universe is my mind and my mind is the universe.” This elephant can't fly yet, but I recall one who almost did— a giant African bull elephant that Lauren Hutton was watching one night. Suddenly the wind shifted and the elephant charged. She ran, fell, heard the earth rumble and was ready to die. Then an elephant's giant shadow fell out of the sky, and darkness turned to starflakes covering her like snow. When she came to consciousness, those massive feet had stopped their charge an arm's length from her head. I see that bull elephant now in this Valley of Fire, heart overwhelmed by beauty— his gentle mind ready for flight.                 Peter Y. Chou                 Palo Alto, 11-5-1993

Elephant Rock Valley of Fire State Park Overton, Nevada Ganesha, Hindu God "Remover of All Obstacles" African Bull Elephant Lauren Hutton, Supermodel