Touching Earth - Rani Manicka
The woman stretched out her neck and howled like a wolf. She tore at her hair until clumps came out in her clenched fists. With the same firsts she beat the dull earth. Alas, alas, the boy was dead. She sprang up suddenly, her eyes wild.
'Do not touch him till i return,' she instructed and ran all the way to the Bodhi tree to fall at Buddha's feet. 'Oh Enlightened One,' she cried, 'my son is dead. If you are indeed the true master, then bring him back to life.'
Buddha opened his eyes. Perhaps he wanted to tell her about the inevitability of birth and death for the unawakened, but he must have seen the dust of dreaming in her eyes, so he told her, 'Go forth and bring me a handful of grain from a home where death has not yet been, and I will return your son to you.'
Overwhelmed by gratitude and joy the woman bowed many times before she withdrew to begin her search. She searched, and searched, and searched and....
Labels: books
Friday, February 23, 2007 // 7:02 AM