I was walking on the streets of Kathmandu, when I met the sage . He wore tattered clothes and had a long beard. The dwellers of Kathmandu call the sage as "Sadhu". They are holy men found on the temples, these men have left the materialistic world, embarking on a journey to the spiritual one instead . They were tattered garments, their body is covered with ash and on their forehead they have something called a "Tika" which is just the Nepalese word for color.They also have a pipe with which they smoke various herbs . I was shocked when I first saw these men, who in their right minds would choose to give up on the riches the world has to offer, my naïve self -thought. So, I went forth towards the sage.
The sage with a grinning face asked my "What is the matter child ?"
"Holy one. Why is that you live in such ways." I asked, eagerly waiting for his answer. "It is happiness that I seek ,Child). He said nonchalantly.
"Preposterous! How can one achieve happiness bringing such suffering to one self."
"Child , suffering and happiness so side by side. If you have control on either one of them, you can control the other." He said calmly.
For me ,who was brought to this world from humble beginnings; who was taught that the materialistic world brought one happiness such ideals had brought me great pain.
"Holy one. I do not coincide with your thoughts. How is it that making oneself go through such suffering bring forth the ability to control happiness?"
"Unhappiness is what you expect happiness. Disappointment, Displeasure ,Discontent , Disenchantment ,Dissatisfaction are all feelings which stem from Expectation."
"Expectation?" I asked as if I was an adolescent learning about the carnal desires.
" If you love something, you protect it. As that thing is just a thing, it doesn't shatter the illusion of love that you create in your mind. But if you love someone you expect it to love you back just like the "thing" previously mentioned but as that love is cast upon something living , it shatters your illusion of love that you created in your mind. Simply, the expectation of the person loving you back is what brought you suffering."
"So, Were you a lover who go his heart broken?" I asked.
" Indeed I was in love"
"Did that love betray you?"
"No. I my love toward my wife didn't betray me but the love that I had shown upon my children is what betrayed me. After my wife passed away, my children whom I loved dearly left me. The expectation that they would look after me was shattered. "
"Is that why you have given upon the world? The betrayal is what shattered the illusion upon your mind I suppose."
"After I was left upon I came here. In the beginning I cursed the heavens for bringing such pain upon me. But soon enough I realized that true happiness is not brought upon you in ways you can think. True happiness comes upon you in a situation you didn't expect. See the irony, if you expect something you end up being unfulfilled but if didn't expect something then even the smallest sparks of kindness brings immense pleasure and happiness."
"Holy one. What about wealth and fame? Cant wealth buy oneself happiness? Cant fame bring the attention one so desires? " I asked to quench my thirst of curiosity the sage had brought upon me.
"For that I hope you go towards the other end of this temple. There is someone who can answer your question"
And like that I walked I went to the other end there I saw another sage he wore a similar cloth of the previous sage but he had a even longer beard
"O holy one. I have come forth to you to ask the meaning of wealth and fame. Can I achieve happiness with it?"
"Wealth and Fame only lasts for a certain time. Every rise is met with a fall. I used to be a wealthy business man in my prime. I had enough money that I could eat anything I wanted. Drink alcohol until I puked and sleep with any beautiful woman that I wanted."
"Then why have you been living with spiritual lifestyle? Holy one"
"What if I had all this wealth and fame but no one to trust. My own children wanted me dead so they could inherit all the wealth. No one came towards me with any form of innocence . All of them had ulterior motives to satisfy their greed. After I uncovered a plot of assassination targeted towards me by my own children, I got fed up and came here. And now I have achieved peace. Real peace."
"Holy one so you mean to say such form of wealth and fame brings forth a suffering of greed.?"
"Yes, that is what I mean. Child"
"Then what about power. Holy one?" I asked.
"Power?" He asked.
"Yes holy one. Power that can even succumb greed. "
"There is a peepal tree near the exit of this temple .Go there. There is a sage who can answer that question for you.
So, I went towards the peepal tree. I soon saw a "Sadhu" sitting in front of the peepal tree.
"O holy one. I have come upon you to ask you about power. Power that can even succumb greed and malicious intent." I asked the sage.
"Child. Power is a subtle topic. I won't give you any sorts of examples of power as it brings me great pain to talk about power as I was an abuser of power." He said with a painful expression.
"Holy one I hope you can answer me!" I pleaded him with all my being.
"Child. Power is a device, if given to the right msn he brings great out-turn but if given to the wring man he uses idly and corrupts himself. He ends up being like me. Loosing everything as power blinded him to discern the right from the wrong even a child will turn to monster if he is handed power. "
"Sage. Is there no way to control the influence of power upon oneself? "I asked the sage being hopeful.
"Child . I had been searching the answer for this very question during the beginning of my spiritual journey. And I ended with the answer that: No. It is not possible to control power. But you can choose not to take power."
After the talk with the 3 sages I went back to my hotel. I will never forget the knowledge imparted to me. And just like the sages I hope to find happiness and peace.
End