The Nature of Duty: A Fable

[Guest guest]

Why hoard all the bad-guy honors for OmPrem? I received this lovely

nomination in a private e-mail yesterday, from another Shakti

Sadhana member:

 

"You lash out by over-explaining Srividya, Khadgamala, etc. You are

anxious to please those whom you think or fear know more than you

do, those stuffed-shirt know-it-all meanies like Omprem. You kow-tow

to them, [then] you talk down [to others] with your constant

explanations."

 

The same individual continued: "Other people [also] notice your

harshness and your flippantness, and the general 'spiritual one-

upmanship/lingam polishing' that is often engaged in on the board."

 

I felt awfully bad about this, of course, and was going to run off

off and drown my sorrows in a pint of Ben & Jerry's ice cream, when

I recalled a story that my great-grandmother used to tell me back

when I was a kid. To the best of my memory, it goes like this:

 

Once upon a time a young boy visited a monastery, seeking to learn

the great truths of life. He approached a wise old monk and asked

him, "Father, will you teach me a great lesson?" The old man smiled

and replied: "Of course I will, child. Come with me and I will teach

you something about duty."

 

And with that the monk mounted an old donkey and rode it slowly out

the monastery gate, as the boy walked by his side. He was anxious

for the monk's great lecture to begin, but the old man said nothing

at all. Not wanting to seem disrespectful, the boy remained silent

as well, walking and waiting.

 

Soon they entered a small village. A few people turned to look at

them, pointing and saying, "Look at that selfish old man -- riding a

donkey, while this poor little boy is forced to walk!"

 

The two ignored these remarks; but as soon as they were out of sight

the monk let the boy take his place.

 

In the next village they entered, still more people frowned upon

them and said, "Look at that thoughtless, awful boy! How can he let

that poor old monk walk while he lazily rides along on the donkey?

And how can the monk be so weak and unwise as to endure it?"

 

Once again, the pair made no reply -- but a little further along the

road, the monk jumped onto the donkey behind the boy.

 

Upon reaching a third village, more people stared aghast at them,

saying: "How stupid and cruel can two people be, making that poor

little donkey carry both of them?! The unfortunate beast will drop

of exhaustion before they reach their destination!"

 

But again the monk was silent and the boy followed suit. As they

left town, the monk tried yet another combination, with both of them

walking at the donkey's side while the animal trotted happily along

unburdened.

 

As they entered a fourth village, more laughter and criticism was

thrown at them: "Have you ever seen two fools such as these? Why,

here they have a perfectly good donkey, and they both choose to

walk!"

 

Still the monk showed no concern. Then, soon after they left the

fourth village, the boy noticed the walls of the monastery looming

ahead of them -- the journey has been nothing more than a long

circle! Disappointed, he finally broke the silence, and asked: "But

Father, what about your great lesson?"

 

To which the monk smiled and replied: "It is over, my child, and it

is simply this: Always do your duty, and do it without fear of what

other people will think -- for there will always be those who

condemn you, regardless of what you say or do."

 

Thanks Nana ... I'll hold off on the Ben & Jerry's for now ...

 

 

, Lili Masamura

<sephirah5> wrote:

 

Why are we all over omprem? ... Best to ask: Why is he all over us

all the time? I am just as happy to ignore him ...