The Journey of a Thousand Miles

Sage Gautam called for Vivek.

Vivek was baffled as the Sage seldom summons anyone in particular. He cautiously entered the temple ground where the Sage was resting. The door was ajar. The Sage whispered, “Come and sit here with me, Vivek.”

There was a deafening silence in the room. Vivek waited for ten minutes which seemed like hours. With droopy eyes, his defining words broke the silence, “It is time for your first lesson. Go on a journey into the world to learn the art of forgiveness. And don’t return to this monastery until you master it,” he said sternly and slipped back into deep meditation.

Vivek was clueless. He packed his bags and headed back to his village where his wife and son resided.

On his way, he had to walk through a dense forest. He came across an ageing old man who hoaxed him into giving him all his money. However, as he was on a journey of forgiveness, he decided not to fuss about it.

As he walked home, he reflected on what the Sage had said. He focused on forgiving. He knew that while it sounded simple, it would require a huge amount of will power.

He saw the familiar house in the grassy meadow. Greeted by his wife, he noticed that she seemed tired and aged over the period. She was surprised and yet delighted to see her husband. She asked about his well being and journey in the last 8 months in the monastery. In the afternoon, she prepared his all time favorite dish - sliced venison with black bean sauce. Unfortunately to her dismay, he politely dismissed the dish, given his recent vegetarian conditioning. 

One morning, Vivek went to the market to get groceries. When he got home, he realised that the vegetables purchased were rotten and not the one he picked. He had been shortchanged. His first instinct was to return and confront the vendor. However, when he got close to the stall, he remembered the Sage’s words. He decided to let it slide. With a sense of calmness, he walked back home.

As days passed, he began to experience peace and tranquility in life, as he began to forgive unconditionally.

One night, as Vivek was about to tuck his son into bed, to his horror, he saw a pale and lifeless body with foam at the mouth. He looked around and spotted an enormous king cobra coiled around the edge of the bed’s frame.

Realising this creature had taken the life of his son, Vivek ran to the kitchen and grabbed a cleaver. He returned and grabbed the snake’s head with bare hands. He was filled with rage and anger. He lifted the cleaver and was about to slice the cobra’s head off and chop it to bits.

At the same moment, the Sage’s words stung him. He remembered the purpose of his journey. He dropped the cleaver and released the serpent and sob uncontrollably at the loss of his son.

The next morning, he bid farewell to his wife with a heavy heart.

The journey of a thousand miles

As he approached the monastery, the Sage was waiting at the gates. He nodded and gave him an approving look. Words were few between them but Vivek knew he had accomplished the first step of a journey of a thousand miles…