Monk Wisdom Series: What's in a Name

In this age consumed by materialism, I am attempting to usher in some profound wisdom through my monk stories to the reader. There exist some possibilities for personal transformation through an exploration of alternate realities.

These stories are not very difficult to follow, but they are what most of us believe, but fail to deliver at that moment. To understand wisdom we have to first drill down into the meaning of ‘Wise’. There are many meanings to it; erudite, learned, enlightened, extensive information so on and so forth. Of what use is all this if you make no use of it?

Hence, making due use of knowledge; discerning and judging soundly concerning what is true or false, proper or improper and delivering the message is of prime importance. What these stories or anecdotes try to provide us with is a subtle message. Some of us will identify with it, some others will be critical about it. When we do that we touch philosophical barriers.

“Our mind is like a monkey” the monks say, constantly at work, hopping from one topic to another. Do you have control over it? Your memories, your wills, your sensations, your perceptions,your future and the list keeps going on and on.

Here is the story for today:

The monastery was quiet. It was serene at dawn and the young apprentice was sitting on the boulder facing the hills. The birds flew back in an orchestrated way. The amber light filled the depth in front of him. The view he had from the top was overwhelming. The village far down in the valley was beginning to retire. Electricity had not reached the village. The light was pure, no adulteration.

He had to come up with a name for himself for the baptism into the monastery. What should he be known as? What should be the name? Is it important? His mind was swelling with questions. The Master saw the young face glowing in the light. The mind was reflecting!!! Moving slowly towards him, he perched and sought his attention. The boy twitched his eyebrows and asked the Master.

‘What's in a name?’

‘Oh! It does not mean anything in isolation, it is about what the ‘subject’ is all about. You are not known by your name but your character and your deeds,' he said and then he went on to tell this story:

A Jackal once went to the naming ceremony in a dog's family. All the members of the dog's family were there. They were the grand-dog, the grand - bitch, the father, the mother and few siblings to celebrate the occasion. The question was what should be the name of the newborn dog? It was very simple. Every one had a suggestion. This went on and on, there were many suggestions. No one was impressed with any of the names. The jackal was the quiet observer. He was watching all the fun and thought - that these dogs can never change. He opined to himself: individually they can be masters but as a collection, they are a nuisance. A dog can be the man's greatest friend and considered intelligent but he saw them how they behaved in a group. To be one up dooms us all.

And then the moment arrived. Seeing the commotion one of the dogs looked up at the Jackal. Then another one, and then another. Soon they all looked at the Jackal and started to suggesting the names awaiting an approval. It was commotion once again; this time with their heads up in the air looking at the Jackal. The Jackal was no mood to end the party. He thought over and said: ' You guys are fighting over the name, when
you have it written on your tails. Every dogs tail has the name of their new family member written on their tail. You just have to look at it and name him.'
'Whoever reads it first will get to name him', he continued. Without wasting any time the dogs started turning round and round……in order to see the name in their tails, and they went on and on……

The Jackal was watching all this, smiled and proceeded to next dogs party…. Even today you see sometimes dogs trying to catch their tail.

Master then looked at the disciple and said while ‘some parents spend some time’ to nurture the child and to be 'known' good, others spend on cosmetics to 'look' good. We start to look for names way before they are born, rarely thinking about how we will raise them.The objective I feel is lost some where in the Trivia'