The Solace Seeker- by Pema Choidar
“Tong…tong….tong!” the gong
resounded through Lamai Gonpa Buddhist monastery. Its sonorous tones carried
through forests, over valleys, up cliffs, down gorges, blending with the
serenity of the place.
The
young novice monks, tonsured and maroon-robed rushed towards the entrance from
all directions.
An
elderly monk, Gelong Mindu stood
still, with a blank gaze towards the western horizon, drinking in the resonance
of the gong until it dwindled and died in the distance. ‘Ah! To retire for
repose after a long day’s service in toil,’ he sighed, staring after the golden
trail of the setting sun.
Mindu
was in wonderland.
Down
to earth, back in his office, he sat in an armchair, fixed his eyes on the
computer console while his adept fingers typed out the alphabet. He must finish
the work, yet his very thought of haste impeded the pace of its execution.
Soon
he was to be with Tshoki.
Almost
time. Before shutting down, Mindu checked
his e-mail. There! Tshoki had given
the time and place of their rendezvous. His spine tingled with anticipation.
Time up! Shut down. Mindu left.
They
drove to Tshoki’s place, watched their favourite soap on TV, and made light
talk over dinner as usual. Having gone together for the last ten years, they
had finally decided to settle down. Their wedding had been fixed to be in a
fortnight.
Mindu
returned to work the next day in a cheerful frame of mind.
Then
the phone rang.
“Hello?”
“Is
it you Mindu?”
“Yes,
something wrong?”
“Um…
I’m…” Tshoki’s voice sounded strange.
“Is
there anything the matter?”
“I’m
sorry,” she hung up abruptly. He stared at the phone, and then noticed he had
e-mail on his computer screen. It was a note from Tshoki which read:
Dear
Mindu, I’m already engaged to somebody
and I’ll be marrying him soon. I couldn’t bear to tell you before but now I
must. I know how hard it is for you. It hurts me too. Please forgive me.
Goodbye. Tshoki
The
very next day, Mindu tendered his resignation. He was called several times for
an explanation. Exactly one week later, his phone rang. It was his boss; his
resignation had been accepted.
“Excuse
me!” his young friend nudged him.
Mindu
stood there dazed for a while.
“It’s
late, “said his friend, “you are miles away.”
As
he approached the hall, he could hear the melodic sound of the prayer in
progress. He entered with burgeoning faith and beatific smile. The other monks
seeing his asinine smile wondered if Gelong Mindu was going senile.
-Written
in Loving memory of my late Grandpa, Meymey Mindu.
Published by Bhutan’s National Newspaper, ‘Kuensel’ on June 26, 2004.
-Reproduced to fulfill the requirement
of KM Tool for Knowledge Management
Course, MEd
Reflection: Wisdom is
pursued through the sufferings.
