It is a cold December evening in the holy city of Gangtok. The market place is full of tourists and cows. The vendors are screaming at the top of their voices. Jishu is sitting alone in the confines of his shop. He owns an Antiques Showroom, which he acquired from his late father. Business is good. Feeding his family is not much of a problem, as he is unmarried, even though he is 46. He just has an ailing mother to take care of, back home. Jishu was always fond of antiques. Not just because his father owned the showroom. He simply liked them. There was always something unsaid about each one of the antiques in the showroom, which he could feel, yet could not express in mere words. There was one in particular, a Buddha bust, below which were engraved the words:
Buddham Sharanam Gachhaami
He could never figure out what that phrase actually meant. He was not ignorant of the word meaning of the phrase. It meant, ‘I am going to Lord Buddha’s sharan.’ However, that was surely not, what it actually meant. Jishu wondered, ‘How can one just isolate one’s family and all belongings and leave for Lord’s sharan? Wasn’t it the duty of the head of the family to take care of all, rather than leaving them at destiny’s cradle?’
A sharp cry suddenly brought him back to reality. All thoughts of Buddha and his sharan vanished into thin air. With a faint thud, all the lights went off. The entire street felt ghostly. A sudden chaos emerged from the crowd ahead of him on the streets. The very crowd, which was cheerful and joyous just moments ago, suddenly began to panic. It was stark dark out there. Candles lit up soon. The murmuring increased.
In the midst of it all Jishu was surprised how beautiful the street looked with just a few candles that lit it... Soft light spread the entire street and particular incense relaxed him. The sound of his favourite chant “Buddham Sharanam Gachhaami” filled the atmosphere intriguing him to the core. He gazed the street anxiously waiting to see what was all this about. Orange robes appeared on the lanes holding candles. There was something on the face of these Buddhist monks which made Jishu stare at them, he not even blinked for a while. He was lost in their charm.
The procession soon passed. And everyone was same as before. Except Jishu. A seer emptiness filled him. He was not able to concentrate. The chant kept repeating itself in his mind. He hurriedly saw the antique and felt the inscription “Buddham Sharanam Gachhaami” He was touched. He knew something was coming, which will change his entire life, inside out. Something that awaited him all his life. He decided to find the soul, the essence of the chant. That day he asked his neighbour the way to the Rumtek monastery.
Jishu was up around 4 in the morning. He left a letter on his red wooden table addressed to his mother. He began for the monastery. Jishu felt as he was guided by some unknown light to reach that mysterious place. And unknowingly he started chanting “Buddham Sharanam Gachhaami”. When he was halfway through, there was a magnetic attraction that drew Jishu to his destination. He reached there and found himself among orange robes and smiling faces. A sermon was about to start under a huge banyan tree. He joined it and waited impatiently for it to begin. Little did Jishu know that this sermon will transform him completely!
“Buddham Sharanam Gachhaami”
Putthassa loka dhammehi Cittam yassa na kampati Asokam virajam khemam Etam mangala muttamam
Meaning He whose mind does not flutter, by contact with worldly contingencies, sorrowless, stainless and secure. This is the Supreme Blessing
Bodhi further said, “The Buddha's teaching can be thought of as a kind of building with its own distinct foundation, stories, stairs, and roof. Like any other building the teaching also has a door, and in order to enter it we have to enter through this door. The door of entrance to the teaching of the Buddha is the going for refuge to the Triple Gem — that is, to the Buddha as the fully enlightened teacher, to the Dhamma as the truth taught by him, and to the Sangha as the community of his noble disciples."
In all, “To do no evil; to cultivate good; to purify one's mind: This is the teaching of the Buddhas. --The Dhammapada”
Jishu pondered over the lines. That night he saw a dream, a unique one. He was following a blue light amidst the woods. He woke up hurriedly and decided to leave for home. In the morning when he reached home, he told this to his mother. His mother, however, knew what was coming. She didn’t respond. But after a while, she asked Jishu that if you become a monk, who will take care of us. Jishu remained quiet. He left.
Jishu’s antique shop didn’t have many visitors that day. He uncovered his favourite antique and felt the inscription, for the fifth time in the day. He knew his true call. Buddhism had summoned him. But he was in two minds. He wanted to take care of his family, as it was totally dependent on him. And if he leaves them in that situation, he won’t achieve true salvation. He explained his situation to one of the bodhis. He received a reply which cleared his anxiety. Buddhism doesn’t mean hermitage, it means salvation. The essence of Buddhism lies in three jewels. One who achieves that shall achieve salvation. “Buddham Sharnam Gacchami” I take refuge in the Buddha. I take refuge in the Dharma. I take refuge in the Sangha.
Jishu began practicing Buddhism. His new life was the mirror of Bodhi principles. After he was relieved of worldly responsibilities, he attained salvation by practicing The Three Jewels. He always had his favorite antique by his side, one which guided him to Buddhism.
A sharp cry suddenly brought him back to reality. All thoughts of Buddha and his sharan vanished into thin air. With a faint thud, all the lights went off. The entire street felt ghostly. A sudden chaos emerged from the crowd ahead of him on the streets. The very crowd, which was cheerful and joyous just moments ago, suddenly began to panic. It was stark dark out there. Candles lit up soon. The murmuring increased.
In the midst of it all Jishu was surprised how beautiful the street looked with just a few candles that lit it... Soft light spread the entire street and particular incense relaxed him. The sound of his favourite chant “Buddham Sharanam Gachhaami” filled the atmosphere intriguing him to the core. He gazed the street anxiously waiting to see what was all this about. Orange robes appeared on the lanes holding candles. There was something on the face of these Buddhist monks which made Jishu stare at them, he not even blinked for a while. He was lost in their charm.
The procession soon passed. And everyone was same as before. Except Jishu. A seer emptiness filled him. He was not able to concentrate. The chant kept repeating itself in his mind. He hurriedly saw the antique and felt the inscription “Buddham Sharanam Gachhaami” He was touched. He knew something was coming, which will change his entire life, inside out. Something that awaited him all his life. He decided to find the soul, the essence of the chant. That day he asked his neighbour the way to the Rumtek monastery.
Jishu was up around 4 in the morning. He left a letter on his red wooden table addressed to his mother. He began for the monastery. Jishu felt as he was guided by some unknown light to reach that mysterious place. And unknowingly he started chanting “Buddham Sharanam Gachhaami”. When he was halfway through, there was a magnetic attraction that drew Jishu to his destination. He reached there and found himself among orange robes and smiling faces. A sermon was about to start under a huge banyan tree. He joined it and waited impatiently for it to begin. Little did Jishu know that this sermon will transform him completely!
“Buddham Sharanam Gachhaami”
Putthassa loka dhammehi Cittam yassa na kampati Asokam virajam khemam Etam mangala muttamam
Meaning He whose mind does not flutter, by contact with worldly contingencies, sorrowless, stainless and secure. This is the Supreme Blessing
Bodhi further said, “The Buddha's teaching can be thought of as a kind of building with its own distinct foundation, stories, stairs, and roof. Like any other building the teaching also has a door, and in order to enter it we have to enter through this door. The door of entrance to the teaching of the Buddha is the going for refuge to the Triple Gem — that is, to the Buddha as the fully enlightened teacher, to the Dhamma as the truth taught by him, and to the Sangha as the community of his noble disciples."
In all, “To do no evil; to cultivate good; to purify one's mind: This is the teaching of the Buddhas. --The Dhammapada”
Jishu pondered over the lines. That night he saw a dream, a unique one. He was following a blue light amidst the woods. He woke up hurriedly and decided to leave for home. In the morning when he reached home, he told this to his mother. His mother, however, knew what was coming. She didn’t respond. But after a while, she asked Jishu that if you become a monk, who will take care of us. Jishu remained quiet. He left.
Jishu’s antique shop didn’t have many visitors that day. He uncovered his favourite antique and felt the inscription, for the fifth time in the day. He knew his true call. Buddhism had summoned him. But he was in two minds. He wanted to take care of his family, as it was totally dependent on him. And if he leaves them in that situation, he won’t achieve true salvation. He explained his situation to one of the bodhis. He received a reply which cleared his anxiety. Buddhism doesn’t mean hermitage, it means salvation. The essence of Buddhism lies in three jewels. One who achieves that shall achieve salvation. “Buddham Sharnam Gacchami” I take refuge in the Buddha. I take refuge in the Dharma. I take refuge in the Sangha.
Jishu began practicing Buddhism. His new life was the mirror of Bodhi principles. After he was relieved of worldly responsibilities, he attained salvation by practicing The Three Jewels. He always had his favorite antique by his side, one which guided him to Buddhism.
Buddham Sharanam Gachhaami
Buddham Sharanam Gachhaami
Buddham Sharanam Gachhaami
Buddham Sharanam Gachhaami
Buddham Sharanam Gachhaami
