The Buddha looked at the eastern sky, and nodded with the air of someone who didn't disapprove but had seen better. "How strange that sunrise must seem less beautiful than sunset, though man fears the night and seeks days' light?" he said. And then started walking at a frightening pace. Bharata, his disciple, followed him, trying to not pant and say something intelligent in reply. He succeeded partly. His "Hmm, yes!" came out quite smoothly. It was a bright spring morning. They were headed towards Sarnath.
DAY ONE
By and by, they met a gaunt-looking man. The Buddha slowed down and started talking to him. Or rather, he started listening. "This world, sir, is in darkness and Man is as a firefly. We are here but for a fleeting few nights; and it is our calling to throw some light, however feeble, in the surrounding gloom. Yes, the task of man is to be moral, and virtuous, and sacrifice himself for others. How can any moral man be content with his personal comfort, when all around him is suffering and injustice? The man that has a kind heart but does nothing for his fellow man, is a bigger sinner than the bloodiest murderer that ever lived." The Buddha nodded, but said nothing.
That evening, Bharata said to the Buddha in private: "Truly, that man is a saint, master. We are fortunate to have the company of one so virtuous". The Buddha merely said, "He is indeed virtuous, but I would like to rest awhile tomorrow. Let him go ahead." And so the man went ahead the next day, while the Buddha swam in a river all day and climbed up a hill to take in the view.
DAY THREE
They started again on the third morning. By and by, they met a tradesman who meant to purchase a good house in Sarnath. He had married recently. "Master," he said, "You are a noble saint. I can't be as detached as you. My life has no great meaning, but it is all I know." The Buddha smiled and said, "Oh, don't worry about it. It's just one's nature. Anyway, maybe you can explain to me how trade is organized. I have never understood it." And so the man explained the principles of supply and demand, and the planning of economies, and how governments worked. He soon talked about competition and human nature and social progress. "We are all struggling only for our immediate comfort, master; but I believe that this is the way towards universal progress. Man is not by nature rapacious. Once the rich find a basic level of comfort, they'll slowly become more generous. Anyway, only if the rich expand trade, can the poor find employment." The Buddha beamed and said, "I'm glad you think so. I don't understand this Business business, but I hope you're right about the nature of man. Anyway, enough of this. Tell me about your family." And then the man started talking shyly about his young wife, and how she had cried when he had to leave, and how sweetly she sang when the mood took her. His eyes were twinkling. The Buddha smiled with him.
That evening, Bharata said to the Buddha, "I can't understand this man. He thinks only of his own little life and trade. What difference, then, between men and beasts? But perhaps, master, that is the greatest wisdom of all. Perhaps man's highest Duty is to live by natural instinct. And yet, can any man truly find happiness in something that is so petty and personal? It is just as well we have a few more days to go. I want to understand this man." The Buddha smiled indulgently, patted Bharata on his shoulder and said, "Perhaps, my boy, you can understand him more by seeing him less. Aargh! Hear me sounding like a mysterious Sadhu. We will let this man go his own way, if you don't mind. We will take a detour. There is someone else I want you to meet."
DAY FOUR
The next morning, they walked to a nearby village and met an old man. He was one of those old people who make one want to grow old soon. He was still fit and strong, but one could see that he was weakening slowly. The hair and beard were sprinkled with white. The eyes smiled, the mouth did not. He greeted the Buddha warmly. "There you are, my boy. I take it you are wandering around as always." The Buddha, looking suddenly boyish, smiled and said, "Well, you know that monks do not stay anywhere for very long." The old man shook his head, looking grim. "You already know what I think of the matter. But perhaps your young friend here can yet be redeemed."
And then the old man turned to Bharata, and said, "Look, my child, your Master here is like a hummingbird. He wanders a thousand miles every year, and wherever he goes, he brings cheer and joy. But he is not just a beautiful bird. He is a man, and an uncommon one at that. His dharma, and that of every man gifted with a mind, is to strive for perfection. Before you say anything, I know that he told you that all life is equal or some such nonsense. Yes, it is perhaps true that if two living beings were drowning, you should save the one you have the best chance of saving. Actually, I don't agree with that either. But even I were to, it's besides the point. The point is not whether one life is more valuable than the other. The point is that each of these 'equal' lives might have its own unique purpose. And I say that the purpose of the thinking man is Thought itself. Oh, and he told you something about saving the world and showing the way and all that. Nonsense. A man who is not movings towards his own Goal cannot steer others towards theirs."
Having said all this calmly, he turned to the Buddha and said, "So what have you read recently?" The Buddha grinned and shrugged. "Nothing? I'm afraid for you, my boy. In trying to teach them, I'm afraid you'll become them. But anyway, while you're here, let us read something." And for the rest of the day, he sat reading to the Buddha, who listened calmly.
That evening, Bharata said, "Master! I am truly grateful you brought me here. Surely, this life is the Answer? There is much we will learn here." The Buddha 's eyes shone, "I am glad, my boy, that you like it here. But I plan to leave tomorrow for Sarnath. If you want, you can stay here. In fact, I'd rather like it if you did." Bharata said, his voice choking, "How could you think I'll leave you? I will come, of course, wherever you go. But tell me, O Master, what am I to make of the world when so many paths that seem right?"
"My child, I am not sure I know the answer to that. All I know is that my path goes to Sarnath."
So saying, the Buddha went into a deep dreamless sleep.
DAY ONE
By and by, they met a gaunt-looking man. The Buddha slowed down and started talking to him. Or rather, he started listening. "This world, sir, is in darkness and Man is as a firefly. We are here but for a fleeting few nights; and it is our calling to throw some light, however feeble, in the surrounding gloom. Yes, the task of man is to be moral, and virtuous, and sacrifice himself for others. How can any moral man be content with his personal comfort, when all around him is suffering and injustice? The man that has a kind heart but does nothing for his fellow man, is a bigger sinner than the bloodiest murderer that ever lived." The Buddha nodded, but said nothing.
That evening, Bharata said to the Buddha in private: "Truly, that man is a saint, master. We are fortunate to have the company of one so virtuous". The Buddha merely said, "He is indeed virtuous, but I would like to rest awhile tomorrow. Let him go ahead." And so the man went ahead the next day, while the Buddha swam in a river all day and climbed up a hill to take in the view.
DAY THREE
They started again on the third morning. By and by, they met a tradesman who meant to purchase a good house in Sarnath. He had married recently. "Master," he said, "You are a noble saint. I can't be as detached as you. My life has no great meaning, but it is all I know." The Buddha smiled and said, "Oh, don't worry about it. It's just one's nature. Anyway, maybe you can explain to me how trade is organized. I have never understood it." And so the man explained the principles of supply and demand, and the planning of economies, and how governments worked. He soon talked about competition and human nature and social progress. "We are all struggling only for our immediate comfort, master; but I believe that this is the way towards universal progress. Man is not by nature rapacious. Once the rich find a basic level of comfort, they'll slowly become more generous. Anyway, only if the rich expand trade, can the poor find employment." The Buddha beamed and said, "I'm glad you think so. I don't understand this Business business, but I hope you're right about the nature of man. Anyway, enough of this. Tell me about your family." And then the man started talking shyly about his young wife, and how she had cried when he had to leave, and how sweetly she sang when the mood took her. His eyes were twinkling. The Buddha smiled with him.
That evening, Bharata said to the Buddha, "I can't understand this man. He thinks only of his own little life and trade. What difference, then, between men and beasts? But perhaps, master, that is the greatest wisdom of all. Perhaps man's highest Duty is to live by natural instinct. And yet, can any man truly find happiness in something that is so petty and personal? It is just as well we have a few more days to go. I want to understand this man." The Buddha smiled indulgently, patted Bharata on his shoulder and said, "Perhaps, my boy, you can understand him more by seeing him less. Aargh! Hear me sounding like a mysterious Sadhu. We will let this man go his own way, if you don't mind. We will take a detour. There is someone else I want you to meet."
DAY FOUR
The next morning, they walked to a nearby village and met an old man. He was one of those old people who make one want to grow old soon. He was still fit and strong, but one could see that he was weakening slowly. The hair and beard were sprinkled with white. The eyes smiled, the mouth did not. He greeted the Buddha warmly. "There you are, my boy. I take it you are wandering around as always." The Buddha, looking suddenly boyish, smiled and said, "Well, you know that monks do not stay anywhere for very long." The old man shook his head, looking grim. "You already know what I think of the matter. But perhaps your young friend here can yet be redeemed."
And then the old man turned to Bharata, and said, "Look, my child, your Master here is like a hummingbird. He wanders a thousand miles every year, and wherever he goes, he brings cheer and joy. But he is not just a beautiful bird. He is a man, and an uncommon one at that. His dharma, and that of every man gifted with a mind, is to strive for perfection. Before you say anything, I know that he told you that all life is equal or some such nonsense. Yes, it is perhaps true that if two living beings were drowning, you should save the one you have the best chance of saving. Actually, I don't agree with that either. But even I were to, it's besides the point. The point is not whether one life is more valuable than the other. The point is that each of these 'equal' lives might have its own unique purpose. And I say that the purpose of the thinking man is Thought itself. Oh, and he told you something about saving the world and showing the way and all that. Nonsense. A man who is not movings towards his own Goal cannot steer others towards theirs."
Having said all this calmly, he turned to the Buddha and said, "So what have you read recently?" The Buddha grinned and shrugged. "Nothing? I'm afraid for you, my boy. In trying to teach them, I'm afraid you'll become them. But anyway, while you're here, let us read something." And for the rest of the day, he sat reading to the Buddha, who listened calmly.
That evening, Bharata said, "Master! I am truly grateful you brought me here. Surely, this life is the Answer? There is much we will learn here." The Buddha 's eyes shone, "I am glad, my boy, that you like it here. But I plan to leave tomorrow for Sarnath. If you want, you can stay here. In fact, I'd rather like it if you did." Bharata said, his voice choking, "How could you think I'll leave you? I will come, of course, wherever you go. But tell me, O Master, what am I to make of the world when so many paths that seem right?"
"My child, I am not sure I know the answer to that. All I know is that my path goes to Sarnath."
So saying, the Buddha went into a deep dreamless sleep.
3 comments:
Congratulating "your" clarity would be akin to lighting a lamp in broad daylight... so I won't.
Been following your blog for a few weeks surreptitiously and there's a lot for everyone (including the fairer sex, which I am not :)
This Buddha is more popular than he thinks though... let the wisdom keep pouring.
Dear chap,
Live long, my man. If indeed we do have a million secret fans, we appoint you the Shahi Imam of our fan club. After all, you are the only one of the whole damn lot who ever said nice things about us.
Thanks much for reading this stuff. We are most grateful.
B.
that last line clinched it my man. capital stuff.
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