Walking the path

“Knowing is not enough we must apply, willing is not enough we must do”, said Bruce Lee. True to his words, we learn only to excel in test and forget it afterwards.  We draw inspiration from charismatic figures, watch educational movies very often, and read a great deal of books. But what have we done after drawing inspiration, watching educational movies and reading books? How many of us learn and practice, aspire and inspire in everyday life. These are the questions that we hardly ask ourselves.

We fail to be pragmatic. Still, we dream of becoming great like Albert Einstein and be remembered for infinity.

Although, it is too inappropriate to compare, the least that we can do is tread on the remnants of path trodden by them. I am sure the path they travelled was not in the sky, it’s the same path and it is in every one of us. It is just a matter of to do or not to do.

Last weekend was a fulfilled one. Perhaps a dream come true. A plan projected since long time could be accomplished fruitfully. We moved out of our mundane weekend routines of lazing around. It was, indeed, a decent opportunity to practice what we have learned once upon a time in Dzongkha class- The act of giving by awakened ones.

Clothes, bags, kitchen-ware and foot wears were gathered from various source. Quite a bulky load we could amass. Though few were secondhand, majority of the stuffs were as good as new. Few not even used once. Anyways, it made a good collection.

Right after the lunch, we headed uphill towards the shacks where maximum of them inhabited. As anticipated, many of them were preparing hard for the afterlife voyage, circumambulating around the stupa with an over smoothed prayer beads. Wow! What a pacific sight it was. For a minute or two, I was soaked in a complete hush of the day. Their face were spiritually contented and had no time to fret about materialistic objects.

The interruption followed when one of us told about the purpose of our visit. Soon we were ushered in with brimming smiles and prayers in unison. Then we undid the loads and made the distribution- fair and just. The joy proliferated in leaps and bounds.

What more can be asked when it was already a boundless happiness from the other end. We celebrated the moment of bliss together. As a courtesy, they blessed us with good life and happiness in future. Good things eventually came to an end with a realization that no religion was higher than making someone happy.

We pledged that we would come again next time with other charitable things. It was a day unlike other ordinary days, yet full of extraordinary fulfilment.

I would like to leave the following lose translations from the book- The way/act of Bodhisattva:

If one wishes to seek Buddhahood by sacrificing their own body

Then, there is no question of giving up worldly possessions’

After all, giving generously without expecting in return is the act of Buddha.