Becoming a monk in India
Recently I saw a news from India, that a couple have decided to become monks. And they do a ritual of riding on an elephant throwing all their wealth to the poor. Well, not necessarily poor, whoever on the road, who likes to collect their money. I am sure, everyone loved it to be on the road on that day. However, there are people who criticize such act. Some, say it is just 'show off'. If they would want to become monks, they should just leave. And if they wanted to donate money, they could have done it secretly. This made me wonder.
Ripple effects of life
Of course, one way to look at such an incident is that they are 'showing off'. If I would ever to donate money, or even anything, I would just do it. But I am a full, introvert at the end of the spectrum. Yet, I try not to be prejudiced about the world with my judgements. Can anyone, do charity, even with big event like above, and not be prejudiced. And the couple in the above scenario, may well be just thinking about their charitable work. Not about the news, they are generating by doing this. And mind you I have just written an article about the ripple effects in life. What if such a charitable work, creates a rippling effect on society and everyone starts doing it. Coming out of their shyness to do something they believe is good. Isn't it a good trend? On the other hand, someone can argue that we should not try to gain anything doing charity, not even becoming famous.
This reminded me a similar experience I had within a YouTube chat. A long time ago, I saw a video on a gathering, of Buddhist monks, doing rituals on their beloved late teacher. They kept some lamps lit up and chanted mantras. They were all doing same. And someone commented, that isn't it good to practice mindfulness instead of chanting about it? Isn't it good to give up on what is lost and move on, like doing real mindfulness. And after trying to understand mindfulness for a year. I think I know the answer to this now and here is what I wrote.
Becoming a monk in mind
Imagine 40 monks who are gathered to remember their beloved teacher. Young monks would see that they are doing all these rituals. And just like the anonymous YouTube commentor, some of them would think that it is absurd to do all these rituals, and they lose time in a forest in solidarity, doing this, valuable time lost doing useless task.
And some of them would not think about anything and just follow what their seniors do, but they have faith, what they are doing must be very important and essential to understand the meaning of it.
I am sure, as all of these Nobel monks are in different levels in their practice, some of them are from forests, where they have been isolated from the society, like those enthusiastic young monks wanted now. And they have understood that, even in a forest that you cannot find silence and happiness you seek, as it is not there outside. And they have come back to show gratitude to their teacher, who is not lived and died outside, but within their minds, still living as a memory. And they must be moving, and speaking and watching in patience, at themselves, still practicing mindfulness, while all the others are shaken by what is happening outside, their minds stay still, like the sword of the seeker, unmovable from the rock it is buried.
That is, it. Those are the thoughts which are transferable to anywhere. Let they be remembered next time when you try to blame someone and ask if you are really curious. Without being prejudiced and judge yourself. Mindfulness is an amazing practice which can transfer your mind into such realms of reality. Hope you will start your journey soon.
Thank you for reading 200th article on mindfulness and philosophy of life.
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