Hi rocks, it looks like youre the only [unfortunate]
chap even among all the people I know who can somewhat
relate to some things I say. Btw I’ve often felt you
intutively practice many things even more than me,
though you seem to underestimate yourself.
——————
This morning, my mother had told me about a rat she
had trapped. She said that she had kept it in water to
drown all night, but it had somehow survived and was
miraculously alive even in the morning. (probably the
cage was a few mm outside water and it had been
swimming all night). But though I hadnt said anything
much – I immediately asked her what she had done with
it. She said “I released it”. [Quite a courageous rat,
I thought, deserved to live]. I just said calmly
“thirga yaavatthu ang maaDbeda, aache bitbuDu” and she
retorted cynically “nin katthe kattu!!” I wondered
what to say – these things always sound so irrational.
Then I added – “aa iligoskara yeLthailla, ninagoskara
yeLdthaidhini” and left it at that. Around 5 minutes
later, I was really curious – I asked how was it doing
when she released it – did it manage to just run away?
She said it was very tired and had just stagerred away
slowly.
——————
The tenants Prasad who have vacated the house have
left the house in a very hopeless state. Apart from
everything including the walls being very very dirty,
the paint is gone in a lot of places. The worst thing
is that every single bit of external electrical wiring
and fitting has been taken out except the tubelight in
the hall. All the bulbs, their holders and most of the
switchboards.
When questioned, Prasad cooly said that the mover who
was moving all the furniture had asked him if he could
take it, and he had generously agreed because we were
going to demolish the house anyway (though we had told
him it was not a plan for the immediate future). And
for the switchboards, he even said that they had never
been there in the first place, though that was quite
ridiculous.
My mother when she told me was very angry about this –
and especially the fact that he had so blatantly lying
to her. [She even added that we shouldnt be giving
Prajwal any of the toys I had brought for him – though
I replied that lets leave him out of this, he has
nothing to do with it].
I reminded her of Prasad’s current situation. In his
new house he was facing difficulties as the owner
turned out to be extremely finicky about the
well-being of the house. He kept reminding him again
and again to the extent of annoying him about dos and
donts. He had also extracted quite some money for
maintenance, and had a written contract that the
tenant must pay Rs. 10K while leaving the house for
all fixtures.
I told my mother, see this is the law of nature –
action and reaction – it is so clear, there is no
question about it at all!
——————
This evening, after dinner, I came upstairs to check
my mail and then sleep. My mother would come upstairs
later after all the housework.
I went to the bathroom and noticed something
surprising – the rat cage was in a bucket of water. I
got an uncomfortable feeling but thought perhaps she
had put it there to clean the cage – though of course
it was quite unlikely. I slowly took out the cage –
all the water spilt out of it, and peered inside –
wishing that it was empty. Through one gap I saw a
tail and a moment later through other gaps, the tiny
feet.
——————
I have been very honest with my mother with everything
in my life and I thought we had a kind of unwritten
mutual agreement – though I’ve been aware at times
that she’s tried to manipulate me.
But I had never expected her to lie so fluently to me
– the law of Karma again, so clear.
And needless to say, it also reflects on myself too –
how can I be angry with her! 🙂
——————
I dont want to publicise this because it might make me
sound extremely despondent about the whole thing,
which I’m not, afaik. It just all seems to be an
interesting game – what seems to really be an endless
trap!
I remember one analogy of Buddha explained by Ajahn
Chah (Being Dharma) – that we’re caught in such a
snare – that no matter what we do, the hunter is in
complete control. Living Dharma is the only way out.
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