Say Apple – An Apple, Mango – A Mango, Monkey – A Monkey, don’t make a monk - Thief!

By: Vijay ‘Bidrohi’

A curious student, hungry for knowledge, asked his teacher a very difficult question – “how to follow Gandhi’s philosophy in current materialistic world to serve humanity”? After a little pause & thought, the teacher replied, it is very simple, start saying – apple – an apple, mango – a mango, monkey – a monkey but don’t make a monk & spiritual person like –Holy Dalai Lama – a thief!

Then equally difficult student asked, if I have to say - a Dragon - a Rabbit, a Monkey - a Parrot, a Mango – an Apple, a Chimpanzee – a Fox, a lovely tender Rose – a Stone, what I would do? The teacher replied - "become an Ambassador or join diplomatic service" or "membership of ruling political party of walled kingdom". Then, the curious student unsatisfied with the answers of his master asked again – "diplomatic services of which country"? The teacher quickly replied – Ambassadorship of any country will work, art of contemporary diplomacy is very scientific. It can make very simple thing appear complicated and complicated thing appear very simple. Student little confused with the answers, asked again – how come political party of walled kingdom figures into this? The teacher replied – ‘don’t you see my loved one, that, sometime, detention & house arrest of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi loved by the people of pagoda kingdom becomes an international problem for walled kingdom and sometimes an internal one! Student satisfied with answers, thanked his master, left him & walked towards countryside to spread the message singing - “Say apple – an apple, mango – a mango, monkey – a monkey, don’t make a monk thief...don't make a monk thief...don't make a monk thief...o...o...o...Great Holy Dalai Lama accept my salute!”

*********************