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WBUR Podcasts, Boston. This Circle Round episode was recorded live with members of the Boston's Symphony Orchestra,

plus a star-studded cast of actors at Symphony Hall on February 7, 26.

You can learn more about our live events and all things Circle Round,

including our picture books, merch, newsletter, and Circle Round Club at WBUR.org.org

slash Circle Round. The spiritual leader known as the Dalai Lama said, our prime purpose in this life is to help others.

Helping others makes the world a better place. There is no doubt about it.

And as we'll hear in today's story, we can be helpers no matter who we are, or how big or small.

Music or how big or small. I'm Rebecca Shear and welcome to Circle Round Live at Symphony Hall in Boston, Massachusetts.

Today our story is called Down the Garden Path.

It's inspired by Buddhist tales from India in South Asia and Tibet in East Asia.

Joining me on stage is a star-studded cast of actors, Michael Bobbitt, Michael Cerveris, Callie Crossley, and Faith Saly.

Providing musical accompaniment, under the direction of our own Eric Shimelonilonus is a world-class ensemble from the Boston Symphony Orchestra.

Kathy Bassrack on viola, Rachel Childers on horn, Chris Elchico on clarinet, clinchformin on flute, Ben Levy on double bass, and Suzanne Nelson on bassoon.

So circle around, everyone, for down the garden path.

Thank you. Thank you. I.... The blossom tree grew outside the royal palace in a sprawling garden filled with so many flowers and plants you couldn't begin to name them all.

The blossom tree had reddish-brown bark and a trunk so tall and upright it looked

...