35. The Monk's Decision

Athamananda, the head of the monastery summoned his two most senior disciples Arulananda and Anbananda.

"I am getting old. The time has come for me to nominate my successor who would take over the administration of the monastery and carry forward our spiritual activities. You two being the most senior monks in this monastery, I thought I should convey my decision to both of you first. I plan to nominate Paramananda as my successor. What is your opinion?"

Neither of them said anything.

Late that evening, Anbananda met Athmananda in private and told him, "Swamiji*! I want to make a submission."

"Go ahead!" said Athmananda.

"You are my mentor, my Guru. I am bound by whatever decision you take. However, I would like to know why you have chosen Paramananda, who joined this monastery much later than me, as your successor, overlooking my age, experience and seniority."

"Anbananda! This is not a government department to consider age and experience as the criteria for filling a position or responsibility. After saying that you would submit to my decision, why do you ask this question?"

"I just want to know what shortcomings you found in me."

"Well, rather than asking 'what are the special attributes of Paramananda that made you choose him?' you are asking me what your shortcomings are. This indicates that you believe that you have some flaws. The first flaw you have is desire!"

"First flaw! Does it mean that I have several flaws?"

"Why do you assume that you have several flaws? My using the expression 'first flaw' means that you have more than one flaw. It could be just two flaws! Okay. Do you agree that you are afflicted by the vice 'desire?'"

"How do you say that I have 'desire', Swamiji?'"

"You have come to me only because you have the desire to become the head of this monastery!"

Anbananda reflected for a moment and said "Well, that may be true. What other vices or flaws do I have?"

"You have the desire for this position. You are jealous of Paramananda because he is getting this position!"

"Swamiji! Can I not say that this is your assumption?"

"You can. But if you reflect, you will agree that what I say is true. We can infer the thinking of a person from that person's words and behaviour. Both you and Arulananda joined this monastery at nearly the same time. You didn't ask me why I didn't choose Arulananda. You didn't even ask why I didn't choose you. You asked me why I selected Paramananda! That's why I said that you have been bitten by jealousy."

Anbananda remained silent.

"Anbananda! It is not my intention to find fault with you. I think that these flaws have afflicted you only recently. Before I told you that I planned to nominate Paramananda, you might not even have had the desire to become the head of this monastery. I am glad that you don't have two other flaws that are associated with the two flaws I mentioned already."

"What are those flaws, Swamiji?"

"When a person doesn't get what he has desired, he will get angry. Driven by anger, he will do things that will hurt other people. Your placidness shows that you are not angry. When I said that you have some flaws, you felt sorry but not angry. This shows that you are at an advanced stage of asceticism. Desire will give rise to jealousy and anger. Anger will make one use harsh words that will hurt other people. So, you should give up all desires. Since you are an ascetic, cultivating an attitude of detachment won't be a difficult task for you."

"I humbly accept your exhortation, Swamiji. I have now become aware of my flaws. I have no feeling of disappointment now" said Anbananda and got up to leave.

"Wait, Anbananda! I am glad that you have quickly accepted what I said and changed your thinking. However, I am not going to nominate Paramananda as the head of this monastery!" said Athmananda.

"Oh! Are you going to nominate Arulananda, then? He highly deserves this!"

"I appreciate your matured thinking. When I said that I won't be nominating Paramananda, you didn't think for a moment that I would nominate you. You mentioned Arulananda's name!"

"No, Swamiji. Even if you were to offer this position to me, I won't accept it. I need to strive hard to drive out even the last trace of desire from my mind."

"Both you and Arulananda have the requisite qualities to head this monastery. I wanted to see how each of you would react if I told you that I had chosen Paramananda over the two of you. Arulananda has accepted my decision with equanimity. Therefore, I am going to nominate Arulananda as the head of this monastery. After a few months, I will send you to head one of our branches."

"Thank you, Swamiji! But I have no problem in serving under Arulananda. I think it will make me even more mature. I will serve under Arulananda till the time he wants me to" said Anbananda.

* A Hindu saint or a monk is often referred to as Swami. 'Swamiji' is a respectful way of addressing a Swami.

ThirukkuRaL
Section 1
The Path of Virtue

Chapter 4
Stressing the Power of Virtue

Verse 35 (In Tamil)

azhukkARu avA veguLi innAch chol nAngum
izhukkA iyandradhu aRam.

Meaning:

Righteousness is all about removing the four flaws –

envy, desire, anger and harmful words.

(This is the English version of the Tamil story 'thuRaviyin mudivu' by the same author)

Verse 36 

Verse 34