Upon seeing Birasi, Geon immediately rushed down the stairs. His concern for Birasi, whose sanity seemed questionable, was one thing, but he also felt grateful to Birasi, who had taught him how to approach music and how to view the world.
Dashing down the stairs, Geon approached Birasi, who was looking up with his hands clasped behind his back, and called out to him.
"Mr. Birasi! You're here! I've been looking for you all morning. How could you just leave without saying anything? We're headed to the same destination; why not go together?"
Birasi, with a melancholic gaze, looked up at the temple. Noticing the change in Birasi's demeanor, Geon stopped talking and silently observed him.
Without meeting Geon's eyes, Birasi took a step forward and said, "Let's walk for a bit."
Birasi began walking along the path by the Bagmati River, not waiting for Geon's response. Geon followed Birasi, who observed people bathing in the river and praying beside massive bonfires.
After walking along the riverbank for about ten minutes, they came across an expanse of reeds on the temple's outskirts. The wind made the reeds sway, but the vast field of reeds limited their view. Standing with his back turned and gazing at the sky, Birasi spoke.
"Even in the swaying of reeds, there is music. In the flow of a stream, there is music. If you have the ears of your heart, you can hear music in everything. Listen."
Prompted by Birasi's words, Geon looked at the reeds swaying in the wind. He heard the cool breeze coming down from the mountains, the sound of the breeze weaving through the reeds, and the distant chirping of small birds. Focusing on these sounds, Birasi spoke again.
"Don't just listen with your ears. Listen with your heart."
Geon gently closed his eyes. Though his heart's ears were not yet open, the sounds of nature quickly soothed his mind.
While Geon had his eyes closed, Birasi stepped forward and gently pressed down on the reeds.
"Music is a dream that doesn't sleep. While you listen to music, your self transitions to a new phase, and as long as you dwell within it, it dominates reality. Therefore, a dream becomes reality."
As Birasi stepped on the reeds in precise rhythm, it added a percussive element to nature's sounds.
To Geon's ears, the sound of Birasi stepping on the reeds became the centerpiece around which the music of nature revolved. The sound of the wind became like violin strings, and the sound of the reeds swaying turned into harp notes.
The chirping of birds echoed like a xylophone, and the sound emanating from Geon's self merged into one harmony. Touched by the music of nature, a wide smile spread across Geon's face.
As Birasi continued to step on the reeds, he turned to Geon and said, "Always dream. Meet your mentors in your dreams, and learn from them. Your dreams are not vain fantasies; they will shine eternally as a guiding light for your steps."
"Since I was young, I've always dreamed. I've met numerous mentors in my dreams and learned from them. They have shaped who I am today."
"Then, for what purpose do you play and sing now?"
Geon, with his eyes still closed, said, "I play to perform for the greatest musician. He may not be there every time, but I always play and sing with the belief that he is watching over me."
"And who do you consider the greatest musician?"
"The greatest musician, in my opinion, is every mother in the world."
"Do you mean human mothers?"
"No, someone who contemplates and looks down upon the world."
"Are you referring to a deity?"
"Well, whoever it may be, it doesn't seem to be human."
"I see."
Birasi turned to look towards the temple.
"What have you felt since coming to Nepal?"
Geon, still not opening his eyes, replied, "I've seen those in pain. I've tried to extend a helping hand. Worked, held fundraising broadcasts, earned money, and donated."
"And how did it turn out?"
"I'm not sure. Whether I was a significant help to them or just one of many attempts to help."
"Music quickly extends a hand of healing with its silver harmonies when the heart is wounded by sorrowful grief, and the mind is troubled by sadness. While financial and material assistance is important, find a way to heal people with your music."
"I still don't know how to extend a hand of healing."
"Play your life's music. Make music as if you don't need money, love as if you've never been hurt, and dance as if no one is watching. Doing
so will imbue your music with the power of healing."
"By living as you say, can my music bring happiness to everyone?"
"Even the same thing does not sound the same to everyone. Music is good for those who are melancholy, bad for those who are sad, and neither good nor bad for those who are deaf."
"Then what should I do? Even if I live as you suggest, to some my music will be good, to others bad, and to yet another, it will just be."
"Live like water. Emulate the form of water. Water flows where there is no obstacle and stops where there is a dam. When water gathers and the dam breaks, it flows again. It becomes square in a square container and round in a round one. Because it is so humble, water is needed more than anything and is also the strongest. Live like that."
Geon remained silent. The conversation with Birasi once again plunged him into deep contemplation. Birasi, either not wanting to disturb Geon or intending to offer further help, continued to step on the reeds, conducting the music of nature.
Geon opened his eyes after more than two hours, though he felt it had only been about ten minutes. However, it was already late afternoon. Seeing Birasi walking around barefoot in the reed field, Geon said, "Who are you?"
Birasi, looking at the strong afternoon sun, replied, "I am the storm, the eye of the moon, and an auspicious being. I am also the king of the three realms."
Geon stood in the reed field, watching Birasi, who turned to look at the sky. Under the sunlight, a gigantic eagle soared overhead, circling above his head.
"Garuda said you took care of the animals of the Himalayas. Garuda asked me to thank you."
Geon looked up to see the giant eagle. Its silhouette, a dark shadow against the sunlight, seemed to speak to him as it cried out with a long, piercing sound.
Geon's eyes closed, and he was once again lost in thought. Birasi disappeared as if he had never been there.
---
Atop Annapurna's peak. White blizzards obscured the view, but Birasi, unaffected by the swirling snow and barefoot, walked through the snowfield with a peace as if a gentle spring breeze was caressing him.
He came upon a massive cave. The giant cave, contrasting with the surrounding white snow, had its dark mouth wide open.
Entering the cave, Birasi was untouched by snow. Inside, the cave seemed inhabited, with a bed and sofa arranged. Approaching the sofa, Birasi said, "If you're here, take a seat."
Birasi sat down heavily on the sofa, and from the darkness within the cave, a man emerged. He had long black hair, wore a coat, and had leather gloves on.
"It's been a while, Shiva."
Birasi tilted his head to the right, speaking in a melodious voice, "It's been a long time, Gamagin. You still look splendid."
Straightening his head, Birasi continued, "How long has it been? Have you been well, Gamagin?"
Tilting his head to the left, Birasi added, "I'll have a word with Gamagin, so stay inside."
Gamagin chuckled, "Brahma, Vishnu. It's been a while for all of us."
Birasi's appearance began to change. The traditional Nepali clothing he was wearing disappeared, and his muscular upper body was exposed, with only his lower body covered. His short hair grew long, cascading over his shoulders, and his skin turned a shade of blue. Finally, Birasi's eyes opened, revealing a third eye on his forehead. The three eyes focused on Gamagin, who smiled and sat down on the sofa.
"It's been a long time since we've had a face-to-face conversation like this."
"Yes, I thought you would come."
Gamagin leaned back comfortably on the sofa, crossing his legs.
"I've been watching anxiously since the boy entered Nepal."
"I knew you were protecting the boy."
"First, let me thank you. For not harming the boy."
"Why would I harm him? I'm not interested in the battle between angels and demons. My concern is solely for the boy to grow up righteously, and your power does not interfere with that."
"Thank you for that, and also for helping the boy straighten his thoughts correctly."
"The boy was always destined to shine anywhere in the world with the power you gave him. I merely added a hand to his light."
Gamagin nodded slightly, smiling, "It's been how long? Have you been well?"
Shiva stood, gesturing with his hand. Flames erupted in mid-air, and with another gesture, a chunk of ice flew from outside the cave.
The ice met
the fire in mid-air, turning into water, which soon began to steam. With another gesture from Shiva, a frostbitten grass blade was plucked and merged with the water, turning it into a green liquid. The green water, steaming in cups that had appeared before Gamagin, turned into warm tea. Shiva, now seated, took a sip from his cup and offered, "Drink."
"Thank you."
After Gamagin sipped the tea, Shiva asked, "What will you do now? It seems you're not intervening in the boy's life."
"I'll just watch. As long as he doesn't go astray."
Shiva placed his cup down, "Do you know?"
"Know what?"
"That two angels are attached to the boy."
Gamagin raised an eyebrow, "What? Angels are around him, and I didn't notice?"
Shiva looked outside, "Michael's protection must have blinded you. But don't worry. It seems Michael also wants to protect the boy."
In the cave atop Annapurna, their conversation continued for a while longer.