Paragu - Phomaen Hintha

( 1 )

In the southern coastal region of Payu, there is a high and steep mountain called “Golden Cup”. When the sky is clear and clear, the lower half of the mountain is surrounded by a stunning green landscape, and the red roofs of the roofs are visible from afar, overlapping each other like fish scales. There , an ancient temple called “Sea Cloud” still stands, as intact as it was when the rice dynasty fell.

When the San King's family was killed, Lu Su Fu fled with his adopted son, and instead of being caught by the rebels who followed him to exterminate them in the mountains, he committed suicide, sacrificing his own life and that of his adopted son, so as not to tarnish the honor of the country.

Some of the surviving members of the San King clan fled to this place, shaved their heads and became monks. They prayed to God day and night for the soul of the departed king.

In this way, even today, a cloud of longing and sorrow is seen covering the sky as far as the eye can see on the mountain peaks. The sound of the sea waves, which are not only soft and boring, is also often heard. When the person hears these waves, he sighs deeply and remembers the past. He is afraid that the past will reappear in his memory, so he is afraid to return to the past.

The precious roof and flower decorations of the monastery I am describing now are like all other ancient relics. Near the monastery, a clear and cool stream meanders silently. Pine trees also grow in rows.

The monks who live inside the monastery take the precepts very seriously. They pay attention to religious ethics and customs. They live with dignity. There is no sound in the monastery. They are very careful not to make any noise even when handling food and utensils.

Every year, when winter ends, a ceremony is held at the monastery to instruct the monks and nuns. However, the number of monks and nuns who come to the mountain is very small. Because the mountain is very steep and scary, and the path to the mountain is very narrow and very dangerous. It is not easy for ordinary people to climb the mountain from that narrow path.

One day, it was early in the morning. The dull, dull sound of the brass bells was spreading all around. At that time, I was leaning against the tower that rose high into the sky from a corner of the monastery, and I was looking at the seagulls that appeared and disappeared in the distant sky. The seagulls flew away as they approached.

The weather was extremely cold for a long time, and the fierce sea winds had the power to blow a person away for miles. That day, my initial probationary period in the monastery was thirty years, and when I think about my time here, I can say that the thirty days had passed without any trouble. Today I was able to go down the mountain to see my former teacher, the monk. In the following years, sweeping leaves and lighting incense were to be my only duties.

As I thought about this, tears suddenly started to flow from my eyes. I sighed.

"Everyone is saying that I don't have a mother anymore. Is it true that I'm a rat? No, that's a lie."

I cried out in my mind. “After my adoptive father passed away, I have been reduced to a mere creature, but every time the wind blows through the trees, or the rain falls, or the entire universe is silent, I hear the voice of my beloved mother calling me. But my heart itself does not know where the call comes from. I cherish and value the thought of it. I want to savor that thought and think about it again and again.”

After taking a deep breath, I continued thinking.

"Mother, why didn't you let me see you at least once since I was born nine or ten months ago? Shouldn't you know that your son is wandering aimlessly around the village and experiencing the highest level of suffering?"

At that moment, the waves of the sea were shining brightly under the sunlight. They were so beautiful and dazzling that they were almost blinding. I put on my robes and went with thirty-six of my five companions. We all walked in a row. We held incense sticks in both hands. We went up to the main hall where the ceremony was held, and we took our places on the left side of the throne, standing motionless like statues of stone.

All the monks from all the surrounding mountains had gathered there. After the recitation of the Buddha's prayer and the offering of incense, there was complete silence. Not even the sound of birds and animals could be heard.

Then a great monk arrived and recited the Dhamma in a sorrowful voice.

"You who wish to become a monk should turn your faces towards God and recite three prayers in gratitude to your parents who raised you."

At that moment, tears started streaming down my cheeks one by one. I couldn't even cover my face. My companions and the other five monks were also crying. When the ceremony was over, the monks came one by one to give us advice and encouragement.

“May your disciples be healthy and happy. Your disciples’ knowledge is profound. Your disciples’ passion for the Dhamma is great. From now on, each of you should serve and serve your own teachers and monks. One day in the future, at some gathering held on a mountain where the Dhamma is hidden, you will be reunited with each other in joy.”

I listened attentively to the teachings of the monks. Their voices, their words, were kind and beautiful. I was present the entire time during the ritual ceremony. Then I received the certificate of ordination as a monk.

After wiping away my tears and parting with the monks, I slowly walked down the mountain. The leaves had fallen from the trees on both sides of the road. Is it a cold, sad world? The only sign of life is the woodcutters who appear and disappear among the trees. How could the woodcutters understand that there is still an indelible sadness in the heart of someone who has left the world?

This chapter is the beginning of my book. All the events recorded in this book are true.