INSPIRATION
I
A
HUMBLE
MONK
n the heart of Yushutzu, where early mornings
carried with them the scent of the wet-misty
earth, the joy of birds and the emerald rays of the
sun created a scenic magnificence, there lived a humble
man named Sage. He was revered for his wisdom and
compassion. His easy going voice and contagious smile
indicated his coming.
The moment he entered the village garden, the children
would pull his saffron robe and play with his long hair. “Sage,
where are you going? Come and play with us or tell us a
story of the happy hours,” they would mutter. He would
always oblige, “Of course my little selves, I never tire of your
company. I too have known such joys when I was your age.”
With eager breath and like a child who is free of worries and
tensions, he’d play with them raucously. When they would
walk along the dusty worn-out road, they would be singing
and shouting together, which filled the air with merriment.
A simpleton at heart, Sage was awfully handsome with soft
long hair that almost touched his shoulders. Sometimes, he
would tie them in a bun or occasionally leave them loose.
With a twinkle in his golden-brown eyes, he saw the world
in all its true grandeur. Love and laughter poured forth from
his soft, tender voice melting the senses of the beholder. A
humble wrap around robe, similar to what monks wear with
half torn sandals and an almost worn out satchel with a few
knick-knacks in them, were also seen on him. Anybody who
approached him, seeing his appearance, would casually ask,
“Hey monk where you going? Take us with you.” However,
Sage would not mind people calling him by any name. There
would be a simple nod and a broad infectious smile.
As a young boy, Sage had the opportunity of serving religious
abbots and many learned men. They bestowed upon him
pearls of wisdom and whispered words o f a thousand gems
through their love and worship. Their knowledge enfolded
him from within and in their gentle voice they said, “Son, you
are now ready, we have educated you sufficiently, go into the
world and give our knowledge of divine love to one and all.
Live a life of simplicity and be rooted to the earth.”
With these words, Sage set forth on his journey. He wanted
to spread love and happiness wherever he went, so that there
is no feeling of bitterness between people. He was a man of
few words and always spoke from his heart. To him, silence
spoke greater than words.
It was always a pleasure to have him around. Wherever he
went, the elderly and the young folks of the village would
invite him to stay for a few days. In the evening, they would
all gather in the courtyard and there would be open debates
and Sage would be all ears. Often he would give a suitable
reply that would greatly benefit the person. Sometimes, he
read and explained from the scriptures too.
There were days when folks would tell him, “Sage you
have such great stories up your sleeves, pray! Educate us
so that they can have a lasting impact on us.” He would be
very happy to oblige and tell stories of virtue and valour.
Many a times, he would say in his humble voice, “Stay away
from fights and settle them in an amicable manner without
having feelings of hatred, anger, greed or jealousy. Life only
comes around once in a while, so we need to do whatever
makes others happy because nothing is permanent, all is a
transient show. Life is very simple, stay simple, have faith
and be truthful in all your endeavours.” Sage was very
pleased that wherever he travelled and whomsoever he met
in his life, he could promote a sense of love and kindness
amongst all his fellow-beings. He wanted all to lead a
fulfilling life of honesty and togetherness. Life is a onetime
offer why not use it to our satisfaction.
Roohani Kamal
Executive Confidential Secretary, Security
ISSUE 1 2018
29