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Second Thoughts by Prof.Sunanda Mahendra

One week has gone since the two Vesak Day celebrations when lot of pilgrims enjoyed a relaxed journey, with their family members, to temples and other places of worship. One of the most remarkable social factors visible this time was the unprecedented number and variety of Dansela or wayside joints where food, tea and soft drinks were offered freely. This was seen as quite a remarkable exercise, for one may imagine as to how such a lot of food and drinks could be given to those who so desired.

There were major Danselas as well as minor ones dependable on the type of people who organized. There were town folk such as traders who do this customarily collecting money to foot the bill that goes to buy provisions. Then there were small associations who firmly believe in the great sense of giving food as against mere decorative means. Though there was a lesser number of pandals or torana this time, a large number of 'Dansela' were visible, numbering to about five to ten in each well known areas. There were rice and curry giving Danselas as well as bread and noodle Danselas. Some family members who flock into their respective ancestral houses too were seen collecting contributions to organize these food offering merit giving exercise.

On discussing matters leading to the Dansela concept I saw a certain modernized social process. Quite a number of village and town youngsters were leaders in the function. Heart to heart, some of them have felt that this sort of human act of feeding and quenching the thirst bring more satisfaction and justice to the society, full of turmoils, as against the mere merriment with street singing making a great big noise evoking only a futile fun, a sort of a self abnegation. This fact had been realized by quite a number of youth who discussed the Dansela concept with me.

'We need not expect anything in return. But let us try and give whatever we have to the needy, said one young man. 'I am not a Buddhist but we are taught the eternal teachings of Buddha. As I said I felt that giving food on a great day like Vesak is a humane action, said another young man, who was engaged in offering food for the pilgrims, stopping the vehicles that passed by. All in all I felt the entire function similar in nature to a group therapy.

We have seen the nature of various 'Dana' or offerings. But there was a clear-cut difference this time. I stopped my car to accept a coriander drink (Kottamalli tea) from a wayside Dansela. When I blessed the young organizers, they retorted saying 'we enjoy this offering of giving a herbal drink.' Let us not confine this great act only to Vesak day.

Giving food, shelter and clothing is the best offering one can think of. Like the great act of blood donation, there are quite a number of other donations one can make. There may be people who can afford to distribute some needy medicine. Orphanages need donations not only in money but also in kind. Old books thrown into dustbins could be utilized to build up rural libraries.

A portion of the money spent on smoking and drinking alcohol could be set apart as a humane donation. While you enjoy cosy life with friends and well-wishers, there are millions staring on the earth planet cursing the so called human development, technological and otherwise. In this planet of ours we have made it a point to build our own mansions with all the luxuries with a sense of selfishness. But when we go to the rural sector, it is ironic how others of our same human centre live in poverty and utmost dismal situation.

A global lesson is taught via the function of the Vesak Dansela, for it teaches us to come down to the earth and look around to see the nature of the number of men, women and children, who need your help. Out of 365 days of the year we set apart two days for actual Vesak celebrations and one whole week as a Vesak week. I was happy to hear that during one whole week most slaughterhouses were closed and selling liquor was prohibited. The Dansela I refer in this column refrain from giving non-vegetarian foods.

During the past few months there was a clamour to bring about a stop to the killing of animals in utmost inhuman method.

As people enjoyed good food from Dansela devoid of animal flesh, it was a constant reminder that the country can survive without killing for food. This lesson of giving food as alms reminds me of an event that occurred in Amaravati which I made mention in one of my early columns. When some devotees bring food made out of flesh the monks and the other well-wishers keep them aside allowing anybody else who would desire to partake of them. There were occasions when the hungry and thirsty pilgrims who may have visited the Dansela more than once. But the organizers were not seen reluctant to drive them off.

This was one of the finest lessons the world can learn. At wedding houses, we see that visitors serve themselves with a plenty of foods as it is allowed. But it looks as if the amount served by oneself through greed happens to be overflowing. As such a part of the food one serve onto a plate is left as wasted unconsumed food. Reflecting on the concept of Dansela I feel that those who have a hand to give and a heart to serve are blessed by their own spiritual actions. And in the journey of the Samsara, they are never hungry.

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