The musician in meditation

"I am fed up with all these sensory pleasures," said the young musician to his mother who brought him a cup of tea.

"What makes you think so?" asked the mother.

"I play this instrument everyday. Some sing, and some dance. The entire merriment for me is boring and monotonous."

"But I felt that you liked your work."

"I used to. But now I see the vanity."

"But then what are you going to do for your living?"

"I am not sure. But sooner or later I feel like renouncing this worldly life."

"Aren't you going to get married."

"No, I do not feel like."

"So you have decided once and for all?"

"I have asked my brother to look after you, mother."

Mother felt sorry. Sona has not spoken in this tone earlier. Something wrong has happened, she perceived. But she did not want to inquire further, feeling that her son may feel sorry.

"This does not mean that I am going to leave you high and dry. I will come and see you from time to time."

"So where are you going to stay?"

"I am going to meet the noble Enlightened One who has visited our village. I want to know whether he would admit me as a disciple."

Sona's mother had mixed feelings.

She knew that even as a child, Sona was religious. He would accompany her to the nearest temple and pay homage to the monks.

He would also listen to sermons and return home to meditate. This time he has decided once and for all to leave the domestic life. His brother was rich enough to look after the mother. So then that duty too is done. Time has come for him to leave to learn and delve in meditation.

"I want to keep off from all domestic bonds to achieve a higher mental state. All these mundane sensory pleasure do not bring me any inner happiness."

He revealed his inner intention to his ageing teacher of music, under whom he was tutored.

"Master, I have determined to give up these music recitals for my own sake. I have no intention of harming anybody. It is my inner urge that speaks to me, to retire the domestic front.

"The master Vasu was silently listening to him:

"Master, you have been so kind to me. I was looked after by a great master. But this is my main intention. I need your blessings."

The music master Vasu blessed him. Sona soon met this Enlightened One.

He underwent a series of exercises where he tried his best to meditate. But very soon the other disciples saw Sona in a hesitant mood rather than deeply engrossed in meditation.

"Sona shows signs of mental disturbance and does not concentrate properly," reported an elder monk to the enlightenment.

The Enlightened One knew that Sona had been very skilful in playing the lute. So he slowly approached Sona and asked a question.

"Are you skilled in playing the lute?"

"Yes sir."

"When the strings of your lute are too taut, are they fit to play upon?"

"No sir," replied Sona.

"When the strings are too slack, are they fit to play upon?"

"No sir."

"But tell me when they are neither too taut nor too slack and evenly strung, what happens?"

"The instrument is ready for harmonious music," "Even so," said the Enlightened One, "too great energy tends to restlessness and too little energy tends to laziness and mental lethargy."

Sona was listening.

"So Sona apply yourself to evenness of energy and try to master evenness of faculties, and in this way achieve your inner mental restraint."

Quite soon, Sona felt that the words uttered by the Enlightened One were soothing.

He stood cross legged and stated meditation.

He could sensitively feel that he was gradually elevating from the outer barriers.