3 lessons from a stranger
By: Sudipto Adhicary
Tags: Spirituality, Fiction, Short Story

I’m a wanderlust. I’ve travelled to a lot of places. And each place has something to pull me back. Or someone.

I had my last trip to Vrindavan. It’s a small place, and full of Krishna devotees. In fact, Vrindavan is flocked by tourists and devotees all year. There one can immerse oneself in true Hindu style of worshipping or start from ISCKON ashrams, learn, and then move ahead.

This story revolves around someone I met in one of ISCKON’s ashrams.

There was this guy, middle aged and slim built, sitting on the steps of the porch and reading the English version of Bhagwad Gita- a sacred text of the Hindus. I sat next to him, and was checking my phone. I had clicked some pictures of the ashram and nearby places and was just checking them out. He stole a glance, closed his book and asked me one simple question- why are you here?

This simple question started a discussion which has changed my perspective of almost everything.

I replied to him that I’m on a vacation and I love travelling to new places. I had heard a lot about Vrindavan and hence there I was. He had deep intriguing but calm eyes and a smile one finds soothing.

He asked- so you’ve been to all places here. I nodded a yes. He again asked- what is that one thing abundant in this ashram?

Ok. I was there. And yet I had no answer to this. I replied, in an unsure tone- pictures of Krishna?

Vague.

Think more.

Story of Krishna? His entire journey? All devotees of Krishna? Hymns and chants of Krishna?

No.

Ok. I’m out.

Look everywhere. Everyone here is focussed on one thing. Krishna. Some are through books, some through hymns and chants, and some through idol worshipping while some through meditation.

True.

But why I am being told all these, I wondered. I mean I am also here, focused on Him.

He took me by my hand and invited me to have something with him outside the ashram.

I agreed. We went out and there were many food stalls. He ordered two pomegranate juices. We started to drink it, and just when one starts to enjoy something he stopped me and offered a banana. He insisted me to eat it, and took my glass.

I took a bite and was somehow not liking it. I mean I was enjoying my juice, why asking me to have a banana right then? I can have it later also.

Anyway, I finished eating it and the juice. The juice didn’t give the same feeling again then.

He asked me if I loved animals. Of course, I did. We went to a cow shed and he started feeding them grass. I also stepped in and started to caress the neck of a cow. I asked him to pass a bundle of hay. He didn’t and insisted me to click a picture of him.

Ok.

Fine.

I did and then- upon his annoying insist- I also showed him the pictures I had clicked. He saw, asked a couple of questions-where, when and all- and then asked one more important question.

You wanted hay. Why are you not wanting it now?

Ummm, well because I am showing you pictures.

He sat on the ground, asked me to sit and then taught me a life-changing lesson:

“Give all your time and attention to the act you’ve chosen to do.”

He saw me sitting in the ashram but busy with my phone. He took the juice I was enjoying and gave me a banana-which he noticed I ate unwillingly- and finally distracted me completely from my objective of feeding the cow.

The first one, he said, was showing how impatient and full of unrest my soul was. What is the point of travelling if you’re busy with your phone or any other thing and not the city which is there to give you memories?

Ok, I was offended. I mean, I always thought that I am calm and have control over my thoughts and all. But he proved his point by asking me what was abundant in the ashram. I didn’t know what was happening in the ashram. I was lost! I was busy with something that could have been postponed. And I was losing every single moment that the ashram was giving me to feel, learn, and grow.

The second one, where I was enjoying my juice, showed how stubborn I was. I was too involved in that juice that I didn’t enjoy something that was equally tasty. And then I also didn’t enjoy the juice. What is the point of being so involved in one part of the present that you end up ignoring all those other ones which would also contribute to your future?

I was lost deep in my thoughts. Things were sinking in slowly. I had recently been involved in a nasty divorce. There were fights and just that. I was so involved in proving my point, in fighting, that I completely forgot that there was a marriage too. A bond beyond and beside those fights. I kept ignoring that and eventually lost it all. I was too involved only with one part. Unfortunately, that one part was leading downhill.

The last one -the one where he distracted me- showed that I was lacking integrity.

That did hurt. But I was ready to hear it.

He didn’t say anything. I did ask how it showed that I lacked integrity. He didn’t answer. He just smiled.

I have been pondering over every single word that he had said.

Truth is so near us, yet we are in oblivion.

I’ve mended my relationship (or whatever is left of it) with my ex-wife, use a simple feature phone so as not to get distracted by all the notifications and all, and I’m more into feeling than thinking.

I don’t know whether I’m happier but sure I do know that I’m more content now. More satisfied with myself, my work, my travelling, and my relations.

Thank you stranger!