Her rich linen swayed in vogue with the breeze.
Her precious jewels reflected the rays of the setting sun.
Her anklets rippled in tune with the waves of the flowing river.
Yet lonely was she as she strolled by the river
With a mind so stressed, eyes so red with held up tears,
And a heart so swelled with memories so harsh.
The sage in a distance was much in contrast,
Wrapped in an attire so plain & coarse bereft of any décor
With a face so serene that expressed pure bliss.
Simple on sight meditating for long,
Under the bulky Bodhi tree.
Even in contrast, they had a similarity,
In one cause, that both dwelled,
In their own realms of thoughts,
So deep and drowned that neither was aware
Of changes around & outside their frame.
With a sound so strong the thunder stuck,
And brought with it the first drops of the rain,
That caressed her glazing skin.
Though slowly she looked up,
And saw the sage meditating peacefully,
Under the bulky Bodhi tree.
He lacked everything she owned,
Yet he was happy, while she withered in grief.
Though not in haste, she walked up to him,
For what she wanted wasn’t a shelter from the drizzle,
But to know the truth, behind his smile and serenity.
As her steps progressed, the drizzle stopped.
Yet she stood there, gazing at the sage,
Taking in the bliss that he alone felt.
Time flew by, and the duo remained,
As unmoved as carved up sculptures.
The sage opened his eyes with the same smile,
On his age rugged lips.
On seeing her, raised his palms in gesture of bless.
With a bowed head and folded hands,
In gesture of respect, she asked the sage in a trembling voice.
‘Oh holy one! Tell me what is the secret of this bliss you enjoy?
You lack everything I own,
Yet you are happy as I wither in grief.’
With an extended moment of pause,
The sage replied, ‘My dear child,
What you think you own are only those,
That I had never wished for.
Hence I never felt the lack.
Whereas I hold what you seek,
But never knew, what you really wanted.