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It was a beautiful spring morning. Disciples had gathered in a hall to listen to a discourse by Buddha. People were eagerly awaiting his arrival and looking forward to an enlightening discourse. Buddha entered the hall and a hushed silence enveloped the disciples as everyone became quiet. Buddha took his seat and was about to commence his talk when a strange thing happened. A pretty little bird flew in and alighted on the window. It looked around at the august gathering, fluttered its pretty little wings and burst out in a melodious song. After delighting the onlookers with its clear notes, the bird spread its wings and flew away. Buddha commenced his discourse. He just told the gathering that the lesson of the day was over! The little bird had taught everything that Buddha wanted to teach on that day!
The questions for us are:
• What was the lesson taught by the bird!
• What was the message that Buddha gave!
The message was: lead a simple peaceful life. Our lives should be like that of the bird: ‘come to the window of the world, live a natural peaceful carefree life, look, admire and enjoy what is around, sing our song and fly away free from all cares, without a trace of attachment to what is left behind in essence, live in the present. Be like the bird – it was neither haunted by the past nor filled with anxieties of the future. It sang in the present’. Questions which arise are: Can we ever live such a life? Is it possible to lead such a peaceful serene life?
I believe it is possible. Was our life not like that when we were children? Our days were filled with fun and laughter. We went around playing, singing without a care. We were not even worried about the unfinished homework which we had to do and take to the school the next day. We built sand castles on the sea shores, not bothered that the next tide will wash away all that we had carefully built. Our lives were like that described in the ghazal sung by Jagjit Singh…
At the end of the day, tired and exhausted we went to sleep and migrated to the land of dreams which had rainbows and rivers, stars and moon and we were princes or princesses just enjoying. Yes, life was carefree like that of the little bird at the window. Let us then, take a lesson from the little bird and learn to live a carefree life. In other words, a life of acceptance and not expectations.
We live when we are true to ourselves and are not living to please others. Our only obligation is to be true to ourselves. I am not for a moment suggesting a selfish, self-centred life because a life led to please our inner self can never be selfish or self cantered.
One recalls the story of Akbar and Tansen. Akbar considered Tansen to be the greatest singer, which Tansen never accepted. According to Tansen, his Guru Swami Haridas was the greatest, and he, Tansen, was no match. Akbar wanted to call Swamiji to his court to listen to him. Tansen told him that that was not possible. One had to go to Swami Haridas, and wait till Swamiji chose to sing. Tansen took Akbar where Swamiji used to stay and made him wait till Swami Haridas chose to sing. As divine music flowed from Swamiji, calm prevailed and the whole atmosphere became peaceful. Akbar listened with rapt attention and became totally spellbound.
He had no doubt and was totally convinced that Swami Haridas was the greatest. He still could not understand as to why Tansen, a disciple of Swamiji could not reach the heights attained by Swamiji. When asked by Akbar, Tansen explained: He said, “It is simple. While I sing for you, Swami Haridas only sings for God!”
It is only when we dedicate our work to God that music flows in and from our life and we become like the bird on the window who came, sang, gave us pleasure and left without expectation – it was free.
So, let us offer our work to God and be free.
