Silent among the noisy

Aravinda and his friends were fed up with worldly pleasures. So they thought of taking sanctuary in the monastery close by. The world has grown to be too technological, too globalized. But luckily, there were still temples around if you need to drop by - which is something that too may die away over time.

So they decided to become monks, their wives, nuns - on temporary basis.

Keeping the spiritual teacher by their right, the friends worshipped him, and left for the forest to meditate. Fearless forest, it was known, as they were practising to rid fear.

The forest was beautiful and calm. The bird twitter was pleasant on their ears as sun rose. The giant trees stood tall, hardly saying anything - but Aravinda and friends could read them. They had taken vows, and were enjoying the solace of an austere life. Will anyone else simply understand it? But then they did not have the urge to impart their happiness to others. There is ample time and a lot to do before.

The solace was such during the first few days, until things took a different turn.

Close to the forest sanctuary was the village assembly hall. That was the only congregation place for the villagers to have their functions. Its walls were not sound-proof, so there were times when the noise got out beyond the hall.

The noise was irritating. Aravinda and his friends were simply surprised how the previous dwellers of the sanctuary had tolerated this noise.

“May be that’s why they left this place,” opined a friend.

“I don’t think so. The monks are not supposed to stay at one particular place forever. They must have left here because of that,” Aravinda responded.

“May be the villagers did not have any function,” commented another.
“I have doubts. Anyway our problem is the noise,” Aravinda got to the point.
“Yes, that’s right. I think we must meet the teacher on this point.”

Aravinda was silently thinking how practical his friend’s suggestion is. They are not allowed to see the teacher unless they have a serious matter to discuss. He had to weigh if this matter is serious or not. He could not judge whether it is serious or not, so he chose to stay quiet.

But the noise did not cease. Almost every other day the villagers had some function, and noise was simply a part and parcel of it.

“I think we must go tell that to our teacher.”
Aravinda was pressed to take a decision now.
“I know, but we must be precise.”
The teacher accepted them and said:
“So what brings you here? How is meditation going on?”
“It’s going very well sir.”

They had a casual talk for some time and exchanged what they had experienced in meditation. Aravinda would have loved to say everything is all right. He thought it is not appropriate to approach the subject right away. No one initiated the subject, until Aravinda thought it is right time.

“Sir, there is one thing that worries us though.’
The teacher gave the usual smile and kept silent. It was enough gesture for Aravinda to resume.

“Our sanctuary is quite closer to the village assembly hall. It makes noise almost every other day. So there are times we find it difficult to concentrate.”

“So what do you want me to do?”

The teacher had Aravinda in a fix. They did not foresee the question would bounce back to them. They simply settled on to meet the teacher, without thinking up any solution.

“So what do you want me to do?”
The teacher asked again, after a time.
“I have no idea, sir.”

“You know,” the teacher said, adjusting his position a little, “it’s you who disturbs the noise. It disturbs you because you are looking for peace from outside.”

Aravinda and the group listened.

“If you are peaceful within, nothing outside can disturb you. So make this a lesson. Let the noise be your teacher. Then you can come to terms with the noise.”

Teacher did not speak any longer. That hinted that Aravinda and the friends must leave.

With a fresh perspective, they came back to the sanctuary. The first day was hardly eventful. The village headman had his son’s wedding the following day. And as Aravinda and friends anticipated, the noise was so much. It was even louder than ever, as if to check on Aravinda and his friends.

Their faces looked pained with constant noise. It was not a piece of cake to practise what they had been taught. But a little effort is worth rather than nothing, they thought. It was difficult to concentrate.

Suddenly Aravinda realized concentration alone would not suffice. There is homework that needs to be done before concentration. He reflected on what his teacher said. You have to be peaceful within. How can you be so? Thinking further, he started spreading loving-kindness towards noise.

May the noise be peaceful.
May the noise be happy.
May the noisemakers be happy.
May the noisemakers be peaceful.

Reflecting thus on and on, Aravinda noticed he was growing calmer. A smile was cast on his face automatically, as if to salute his act. Spreading loving kindness to the noise, Aravinda knew that’s how it could become his teacher. The teacher of patience. No patience, no silence.

He was practising patience with loving-kindness. A few moments glided with loving-kindness. With amusement he felt the concentration coming along slowly. As midday was settling in, Aravinda thought he must summon his friends for a meeting.

The noise still pervaded the forest.

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