i was in my solitary apartment.
Reading stories of Ajahn Chah translated by Thanisaro Bhikku
Its a gem i thought.
i got totally engrossed in his writings.
Visualizing a beautiful film woven around these stories.
Suddenly i heard people shouting.
Some even screamed.
i ignored.
After all, shouting and screaming is part of life for people living down my lane.
But the noise grew.
Into a crescendo like a symphony.
i walked out to the window to see people running up hill with bags and baggage.
Children running behind adults and older people trying to keep phase with others.
i came out to the balcony.
My front door man shouted at me.
“Do you know there is a Tsunami warning”
i smiled at him.
In a tone almost scolding he repeated “there is a powerful tsunami coming this way”
i packed my camera bag and was on the road in seconds.
Walking up stream beating all that human traffic on the Galle road,
down to Sangamiththa Lane towards the beach.
They looked at me as if i am a criminal.
A group of youngsters on a roof top shouted at me,
“uncle take a picture of us please”
i stopped to capture them.
Someone tapped my shoulders.
“are you off your head”
i smiled and continued to the railway track that runs parallel to the beach, just 50 meters away.
Peeped through the bushes to see the ever calm sea.
It was one of the most beautiful sites.
No movement at all and it looked almost a still forest pond.
i thought for a moment “is today the day to try walking on the water”
Is this the same beach i used to walk every morning with hundreds of others, so noisy and crowded.
Is this is the same sea i bathed every Sunday with so much laughter around.
i took pictures. Pictures of the empty beach.
The boats – the deserted fishing village.
i started walking towards Colombo.
Enjoying the stillness around.
It was blissful.
Someone shouted at me breaking that frozen stillness.
A middle aged fisherman whom i meet every morning cleaning his boat.
He walked towards me slowly, his body waving like a fishing rod.
“Sir, where are you off to”
“i dont know, just walking”
“You know … if it comes all will be gone in seconds boooof”
i smiled, he held my shoulders.
“Are you not afraid” he looked straight into my eyes.
“what is there to be afraid – i have not done any wrong to anyone” i murmured casually.
Then we sat on the beach, spoke at length.
Enjoying the beauty of the calm sea.
His life, his wife, his affection to alcohol,
his girl friend who left him, his daily income and many other stories.
Like a kid he played with sand while talking.
Built something like a pagoda, a pond next to it and a winding road.
i kept on clicking. He kept on talking.
Suddenly he asked me >>
“Sir… you have no stories to share”
i smiled.
“you have no girl friend, parents, no one to bother”
i said nothing but waved my head side to side.
Such a calm sea. i could hear the singing fish.
No movement at all and it looked almost a still forest pond.
i thought for a moment “is today the day to try walking on the water”
i started walking back home.
And they started returning too.
Someone stopped me “can we see your pictures, they must be beautiful”
Back in my solitary apartment the first phone call arrived.
“Are you alright, where are you, why don’t you come to our place tonight, bring only your valuables”
Another call, and another and another – i switched off the mess.
i am still reading.
Reading stories of Ajahn Chah translated by Thanisaro Bhikku
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