Zen woke up as the distinct sound of the alarm clock rang, on normal days, he would have been annoyed with his sleep being interrupted because of the alarm clock, but today his mind was calm, he was shocked at how peaceful his mind is.
"It's my birthday!"
Zen was still contemplating but as he thought of his birthday, the childish joy from knowing the today is your birthday, quickly overwhelmed him. He was excited by the gift that his mother and father would give him.
He went to the bath at the same floor and hurriedly ran downstairs, there he saw the Old man standing outside and the scenes from last night appeared in his mind.
He remembered how the monk had accepted him as an apprentice, and so he moved towards the old man for polite greetings.
"Goodmorning, Master." he held the old man's right hand and placed his forehead on it, as a sign of respect.
The old man smiled at his first and newest disciple, the fat boy was sweet to the eyes and so the old man was quite satisfied. He was hoping to pass on his art to someone worthy before he departs. However, the few years or decades of staying in this place is nothing for him.
"Child, I will teach you later but for now, tend to your family as it is your special day"
"Zen! Come here to the kitchen!" Mariz's voice rang far from the kitchen, the old man gestured for Zen to go back in the house.
Zen ran as fast as he could, hoping that he would be able to acquire his birthday gifts now, but what made him more excited was the scent of foods halfway through the kitchen.
"Wow! So much spaghetti!" He cried out as he saw spaghetti on a large platter at the table, it was his favorite meal along with fried chicken.
Bewildered at what he saw on the table, Zen was about to take a chicken from the table but a hand suddenly stopped him from doing so, "Zen, that's for your classmates. Your food is being prepared by your mother."
Actually, the whole family prepared enough to feed the whole students in their school as the school was only an elementary school and there are only around 60 to 80 students. They were going to celebrate Zen's birthday through sharing their blessings with everyone.
Zen asked his mom to also prepare food for the old man as he will bring it to him.
"Oh so you have met Grandpa Hasi already, Zen. Did you mano to him?" She asked as she recalled what happened earlier.
Old man Hasi and the couple had already talked earlier, as the old man introduced himself as a buddhist monk, the couple was shocked as the old man told them how he had chosen Zen to be his disciple.
At first, Mariz was in disbelief as Ed translated what the old man said for her. She wouldn't agree but was later convinced by Ed as he remembered the mysterious encounter he had with the old man.
They were further convinced as the old man portrayed his strength, he held a paper and threw it at the wall. They were shocked to see how the paper pierced the concrete and from that incident, they became fully convinced.
They knew that there were creatures different from the commoners, some held powers unknown to the people. They knew this because of Ed's background.
Back to the present,
"Mama, I'll bring the food to Grandpa and eat with him." Zen walked towards the old man with a tray in his hands.
The old man was sitting at a bench as he watched the sky, he smiled as he saw Zen bring a tray of food towards him.
"Mhmm, thank you Zen." He helped Zen place the food on a DIY table made of wood, "Come sit." he gestured for Zen to sit beside him.
"Let's eat, Zen." the two ate silently, Zen looked at his master and wondered how the old man blended with the surrounding harmoniously.
"Grand-" Zen was about to talk but stopped when he saw the old man smiled as he gestured for Zen to be silent.
The two finished their food in silence.
"Zen, have you thought of why I stopped you from talking while we eat?"
"Because it's disrespectful to talk while we eat, Grandpa." Zen replied casually.
The old man smiled and answered, "Remember Zen, we need to focus on eating while also being mindful. How can we do that if we distract ourselves from our thoughts or conversations?"
Zen was thoroughly confused at what the old man meant but he kept it in mind nonetheless.
"Yes, Grandpa." he then took the tray to the kitchen and came back to sit beside the old man. .
"Child, I will speak a Buddhist mantra, I want you to chant it on your mind as you walk, eat and rest."
"What is it grandpa?" Zen was excited but he didn't show it in front of his master.
The old man stared at Zen before he started mouthing words which Zen couldn't hear. But the moment Zen blinked, a magnificent voice rang in his mind chanting, "om mani padme hum" it rang over and over again, Zen didn't knew what to do but he tried to chant the words in sequence with that majestic voice.
The voice in his mind slowly dissipated as it was overpowered by his own chanting.
Zen sat there undisturbed for 5 minutes looking like his presence had synchronized with his surroundings. The old man observed as the world's energy gathers itself around Zen every time he chants the mantra in his mind,
"Zen! Help your father transfer the food to the jeep."
Zen's focus was disrupted when he heard his mother's shout, he looked at his master and bowed.
"Go Zen, help your family." the old man said as he closed his eyes and started meditating.
After a few seconds of sensing that Zen is away from him, he spat some blood and said, "Seems like thunder titan's strike has left some hidden injury inside me."
He observed his body and saw that there were some hints of thunderous or chaotic energy inside his dantian, he channeled his qi to slowly eliminate the hidden danger inside his body.
Zen finished helping his parents and went to his master to bid farewell since he and his dad will go to his school to provide his birthday food to everyone before lunch time. The principal and three helpers were waiting outside the school gates for Ed's jeep, they were here to help transport and distribute the food to everybody in the school field.
The principal was overjoyed when he saw Ed's jeep from afar, he told the two helpers to get ready on helping them place the food on the field.
"Good morning, Principal." Ed greeted when he came out of his jeep.
The two shook hands and Ed showed the principal the packed foods for them to transfer, the four along with Zen took the food by batch inside the school.
"Miss Glen, tell the students to come here at lunch break to eat." He ordered a teacher that was standing at the side. The teacher went to each classroom to announce the food distribution on the field.
Thirty minutes later, all of the students were lined up in front of the tables with packaged food on it. Zen was looking at them from the side with his father and he felt warm as each student thanked his family from the food they gave.
He walked towards his friends and classmates, talked with them and played for a few minutes before he and Ed left for home. The two of them left content and full from the joy that they brought.
Author's note
Mano- is a gesture of respect to the elderly by holding the back of their hand on your forehead.