Monk like crow and kittens
I was waiting, besides the road, for my friend to pick me up. Due to covid, roads were relatively empty. A tree from the adjacent park was giving enough shade. A guy had converted the boundary wall of the park into a temporary lottery ticket stall. There were many luck seekers hanging around. Especially after covid their numbers have increased, it seems. Generally, in such occasions my hand will automatically go to the smart phone and will start fiddling with it. Spending few minutes without a smart phone is unimaginable. I am aware that if I keep the phone away for few minutes’ life can gift me many valuable lessons. However, the temptation normally is very strong. Today I decided to overcome the temptation.
As I was waiting, I saw an old guy coming in a two wheeler. If not for covid he would have spent his day at home with his grandchildren. Obviously he was trying to extend his share of help. He came and stopped under the shade of the tree. A plastic crate was tied to the back of his two-wheeler. He was a fish vendor. He was looking tired. Interestingly, he did not even glanced at the lottery guy. It seems, he was more confident about hard work than the unpredictable luck.
Immediately, as if from thin air, two black kittens appeared. They obviously have sniffed a possible food. Animals have amazing capacity to sniff their food out. Both started circling round the old man as if reminding him of something. Then they started rubbing their body against his slender legs. When they realised that he was paying no heed, they started meowing desperately. The old man had a naughty smile on his face. He was testing their patience. He took two fishes and threw at them. He had thoughtfully kept it for them. The kittens took their fish and disappeared.
In another couple of minutes, the old man threw another two fishes on to the road. I was feeling very sad seeing that. If the kittens had remained there for few more minutes, they could have got another fish to eat. I thought they should be taught the virtue of waiting. They should learn more patience. If given an opportunity I was even ready to take a one day training program for them on that topic.
But standing there, it was me who learned a few important points of life. Animals are worried only about their immediate food. Once they get it they are satisfied. Unlike human, they don’t want more and more. They also don’t have the habit of storing beyond their requirement. But we human beings are always worried about the future and want to stock up much beyond their requirement. We have seen this, especially during the lock down. We are taught that we should have plan for the future as well. That is why I felt sad when the kittens disappeared with the fish. But animals are not that bothered. They live in the “now”. When they feel hungry again they will search and find their next food. The Buddhist monks, it is said, will only take whatever they need for the day. When they go out with the begging bowl for their alms, the moment they get enough food they go back to the Ashrams and meditate. Animals could understand this principle much easier. For human being, even though he has umpteen religions, it is difficult to realize this simple truth.
As I was going through these thoughts, two crows flew down and picked the other two fishes in a flash. In the morning I had witnessed the amazing ability of the birds to pick up their food. I had few left over bread slices. I broke it into pieces and threw it onto the courtyard. At the force of my throw, few fell on the bushes, few below the shrubs and some beyond the boundary wall. And within seconds, few birds flew in from nowhere and started pecking at them without leaving a single piece.
Now,one crow flew away with its food. But the other one was not so lucky. Before it could get off, a murder of crows started attacking him. I was surprised with that sight. That crow belonged to the same race. The only difference was it had some food in his mouth. But that did not prevent the other crows from attacking it. They won’t feel- come on, at least one among us got the food, let him enjoy it. Instead they will vigorously attack him till they grab the food. This phenomenon will not be difficult for human to understand. He does it all the time.
But, HAVE NOT’S attacking the HAVE will be something new for him. A great thinker once predicted that the HAVE NOT’S , being in majority, will once triumph over the HAVE’S. But nothing of those sort happened. Among human beings, the HAVE’S, though in minority, will always chase the HAVE NOT’S. They will pick up all possible fishes and fly high.
Suddenly the crow had a great realization. It understood that the crows are not after him, but after the food between his beaks. After a thoughtful moment, it dropped the food from its beaks. Immediately the other birds changed their attention. That is all you have to do, drop your possessions and burden. The moment you drop them, you are free. Nevertheless, it is easier said than done.
The crow sat on a branch of the tree, visibly tired after the great chase. I looked at it. What is going through its mind? Is he sad for having lost his hard earned food or is it relieved for having saved itself from all those vicious attacks? I could not read anything from its face. It looked peaceful and withdrawn. After a few minutes, he spread his wings and took off, looking for its next meal. Seemingly, he has completely forgotten everything that happened a few minutes ago.
Just then those two kittens came back. They looked highly contented. The stomach is full now for them. Till the time they feel hungry again they don’t have to bother about anything else. They lazed out in the warm sun, in absolute serenity.
As I got into my friends car, I looked back once again. They looked like two monks, completely at peace with themselves.
Imagine, if you could keep your smart phones away for few minutes, what all rich experiences the life can provide you with!!!!
