(18) Story of the Bhikshu - 1

STORY OF THE BHIKSHU

[1]

Long long ago there lived a Bhikshu (religious mendicant).

For long he had been engaged in the practices of Praanaayaama and meditation.

He lived on the meager meals obtained by begging here and there.

Though he knew that he had to attain the state of Self-realization to become liberated, he still did not have the grasp of true knowledge.

Life had become a routine.

Meditations, disciplines, begging food and sleeping; that is all the life amounted to now.

As he was unable to stay absorbed in the blissful state of the Self, meditation-process had just become a mechanical practice for him leading nowhere.

[2]

One day after the regular contemplation practice, he was sitting on his seat slightly bored and dejected.

Life had become a burden. Neither was he able to attain the state of the Self, nor was he able to go back to the life of a common man steeped in material pleasures.

He wondered what the life of an ordinary man would be like. He decided to find out by himself. It would be an amusing break and quite entertaining.

There was nothing to lose. He had the capacity to concentrate on anything with his full mind such that he could forget his own Bhikshu-identity in such practices. He had tried various methods already, like trying to be in the state of inert elements like water, plant, rock etc.  Today he decided to concentrate on the ordinary man’s state of mind and see what it would be like to be ignorant and worldly.

No disciplines; no fasting; no thought of liberation even; but just live as whatever one liked! 

[3]

Bhikshu closed his eyes and thought of himself to be an ordinary man of the world. He named himself as Jeevata. (जीवट​)

Instantly he found himself on the road mingling with the street dwellers. Jeevata was a new identity; a new Jeeva. He was not at all aware of his Bhikshu identity.

Laughing and making merry with his friends, he enjoyed the ignorant life he was born with. Yes Jeevata had an old mother at home; had friends who   hung out with him; had memories of his childhood as Jeevata.

He wore dirty clothes; disrespected elders; never sought any learning.

Life was going on wastefully without any purpose. There was no difference between him and a street dog.

One day he got drunk and fell asleep on the road-side, lost in heavy stupor.

He dreamt that he was a learned Brahmin. Maybe in his heart of his hearts he had a liking for the clean and pious ways of a Brahmin.

[4]

There was instantly a world around him that belonged to the Brahmin identity. His students were saluting him; his wife was preparing food for them all; his own sons were serving him devotedly. The Brahmin never knew of his Jeevata identity. He was happy in his own world. He regularly studied his scriptures; performed the worship of the fire; taught Vedas to his students and so on.

Life went on day by day with regularity and proper disciplines.

The Brahmin was not much satisfied with his life. There was always not enough money to run the family. He had to go to distant villages to perform sacrifices and earn his daily bread. He was frustrated. Only if he could be a chieftain of a town…! How wonderful it would be! No need of so many struggles to make both ends meet. He sighed. He was returning home after a stay at some far off village. The journey had been tedious and the day had been hot. The Brahmin entered his little cottage and after the regular bathing etc ate some light food and slept on the mat spread on the ground. He then dreamt that he was the chieftain of a town.

[5]

Instantly there was a world around him that belonged to the chieftain identity. The chieftain was not aware of his Brahmin identity at all.

He had a family of his own. Sons and daughters crowded the house. There was enough wealth for a comfortable life. Wherever he went, people saluted him with respect. He was a good administrator and helped the people in all ways. But he was not satisfied with his life. He was frustrated. Only if he could be a king ruling over a kingdom…! How wonderful it would be! There would be so many pretty wives giving him company. He would be rolling in gold and diamonds. All pleasures whatever the world could offer would be his.

The chieftain sighed in frustration and slept off on his bed. He dreamt that he was a king.

[6]

Instantly there was a world around him that belonged to the king identity. The king was not aware of his chieftain identity at all.

There was a huge palace; beautiful girls all around him attending to all his needs; a vast kingdom which he owned; a wise minister to guide him; a devoted queen who worshipped the very ground he walked on and so on. There was nothing more that a man could ask for. The king had access to all the pleasures of the earth. But he was not satisfied with his life. He was frustrated. Only if he could be in the heaven enjoying the company of an Apsaraa!  How wonderful it would be!

Thinking of the beauty of the heavenly damsels he fell asleep. He dreamt that he was a divine damsel passionately coveted by many god-world denizens.