"Everything means?" asked Vanaja, in a tone of irritation.
"Biscuits, snacks and other eatables we had bought from the shops, for the tour."
"Are we going on a pilgrimage, or are we going for a picnic?"
"Just because we are going on a pilgrimage, we don't have to live on an empty stomach. We are traveling by a tourist bus. We can have our food only at the time and place decided by the tourist operator. We will be fed only at places where the bus will be halted. Do we have to starve till the time the tourist operator chooses to feed us?"
"Why are you taking these novels?"
"To spend time by reading them, when I get bored."
"But, you have the mobile phone and earphones. You can listen to songs."
The young man called his home from the hotel phone and talked to his parents briefly, informing them of his arrival at the hotel.
"Yes. I have brought only a few clothes. I plan to wash and dry my clothes during the night. If I brought a number of clothes, I would be thinking about which dress to choose, which combination would give me a better appearance etc. I wanted to avoid such thoughts."
"But, you have the mobile phone and earphones. You can listen to songs."
"I can read a book, while listening to the songs played in the mobile. If we read an interesting book, while listening to music and munching the chips, how ecstatic will that experience be!"
"You have left out two things?"
"Which ones?"
"Of the five sense organs, you have mentioned feeding your eyes, ears and the tongue. There are two more sense organs."
"Of the five sense organs, you have mentioned feeding your eyes, ears and the tongue. There are two more sense organs."
"Well. The falvour of the chips will excite the nose. Sitting in a well-cushioned seat and traveling will give pleasure to the body. So, the other two senses will also be covered!"
"You can't refrain from feeding your five senses, even when you are visiting temples!"
"Only if we feed our five senses, our mind will be able to focus on sublime thoughts."
Most of the people who were part of the pilgrimage seemed to have the same thinking as Saravanan. As soon as the bus had departed, many of the passengers wore their headphones and opened the snacks packs.
"You can't refrain from feeding your five senses, even when you are visiting temples!"
"Only if we feed our five senses, our mind will be able to focus on sublime thoughts."
Most of the people who were part of the pilgrimage seemed to have the same thinking as Saravanan. As soon as the bus had departed, many of the passengers wore their headphones and opened the snacks packs.
Wile most of the passengers comprised families with two or more members, one young man was traveling alone. He was sitting on a seat in front of Saravanan and Vanaja and looking outside the window.
The bus was halted in front of a hotel, in which accommodation was arranged for the pilgrims by the tour operator. The pilgrims were waiting in the hotel lobby, while rooms were being allotted to them by the hotel staff.
The bus was halted in front of a hotel, in which accommodation was arranged for the pilgrims by the tour operator. The pilgrims were waiting in the hotel lobby, while rooms were being allotted to them by the hotel staff.
The young man asked a clerk sitting at the reception desk, "I want to make a phone call. Do you have a telephone booth nearby?"
The clerk told him that he could use the hotel phone.
The young man called his home from the hotel phone and talked to his parents briefly, informing them of his arrival at the hotel.
When he returned to the lobby after making the phone call, Vanaja asked him, "Have you come alone for this trip?"
"Yes, auntie. My parents had taken this tour package a couple of months back. It is on their advice that I joined this tour" replied the young man.
"What has happened to your mobile phone? Is there no charge in the battery."
"No, auntie. I didn't bring my mobile phone."
"Why? did you forget to take your phone, while leaving your home?"
"No. This being a pilgrimage tour, I thought I should go without my mobile phone for a week, during the tenure of this tour. If I had my mobile with me, I would receive some calls. I might be tempted to watch videos, listen to songs etc. I thought while visiting the temples, I should keep away from other interests and focus my thoughts on God."
Looking at his small bag, Vanaja asked him. "Is this bag your only luggage?"
"Yes. I have brought only a few clothes. I plan to wash and dry my clothes during the night. If I brought a number of clothes, I would be thinking about which dress to choose, which combination would give me a better appearance etc. I wanted to avoid such thoughts."
Vanaja looked at her husband. He was wearing the earphone and heartily enjoying a song playing on his mobile phone.
Thirukkural
Section 1
The Path of Virtue
The Path of Virtue
Chapter 13
Restraint
Restraint
Verse 126 (In Tamil)
orumaiyuL Amai pOl ainthadakkal ARRin
ezhumaiyum EmAppu udaiththu.
ezhumaiyum EmAppu udaiththu.
Meaning:
If one can restrain his five senses, like a tortoise that retreats into its single shell, it will benefit him in his seven births.
(This is the English version of the Tamil story 'Alaya dharisanam' by the same author)
Verse 127 (Soon)
Verse 125
Verse 125
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