There was once a monk who was meditating beside the road, and he apparently had been there for many, many years, for his hair had grown out into the ground, birds had made nests in his hair. He was sitting there meditating. All of a sudden he felt the presence of a great Sage coming by. He knew immediately this was a great Sage.

He opened one eye, and looked, and he said to this Sage, “Holy Father, where are you going?”

The Sage said, “I’m going to see God.”

The monk replied,
“Holy Father, when you see God would you please ask him for me how much longer I have to sit here in meditation before I become absolutely free, before I become liberated?”

The Sage said, “Yes my son, I will.” He walked down the road and there was another monk about a mile away, also sitting in meditation. He apparently had also been sitting year after year. His hair had grown into the street. He was in total silence. He felt the presence of the Sage also. He opened his eyes and he said, “Holy Father, where are you going?”

The Sage said, “I’m going to see God.”

“Will you please intervene for me and ask God how much longer I have to sit like this before I become liberated?” Said the monk.

The Sage replied, “Yes my son, I will.”

Six months have passed. The first monk was sitting in meditation as usual. He again felt the presence of the Sage. He opened his eyes and he smiled, and he said, “Have you seen God?”

“Yes, my son,” replied the Sage.

“Did you ask him for me how much longer I have to meditate this way before I become free and liberated?”

“Yes, I did,” replied the Sage.

The monk became excited. “What did he say? How long do I have to sit here?”

The Sage pointed to a tree. He said, “You see the leaves on that tree. God told me that you have to reincarnate as many times as there are leaves on this tree, before you become totally liberated.”

The monk became upset. He became hysterical. He said, “What? I’ve been meditating like this all these years and now you tell me this? To heck with this. I’m going to town to get drunk.” And he brushed himself off and left for town.

The Sage came to the second monk. Again the second monk felt his presence, opened his eyes and asked him, “Holy Sir, did you ask God how much longer I have to sit here?”

The Sage told him the same thing. “Yes,” he said, “Do you see these leaves on this tree? You have to reincarnate as many times as there are leaves on this tree.”

But this monk reacted quite differently. He started to dance and to sing with joy. He said, “Thank you God. It’s only one tree.”

And the Sage said to him, “My son, you are already free.”

Courtesy of R.Adams

©Excellence Reporter 2020