Chapter 317

Chapter 317

Roused by a warbling cackle emanating centimetres from my ear, I let loose with an unmanly scream and spring to my feet in a surge of fear and anxiety. Confused by my unfamiliar surroundings, it takes a moment to find my bearings and remember that Id slept outside to keep Ping Ping company. Rudely awakened by my panicked actions, Mama Bun makes her displeasure known with a mild headbutt to my jaw followed by a murderous glare and pouty yawn. Equally aggrieved, Blackjack pops up to issue a series of displeased snorts and grunts before retreating to the warm comfort of Mama Buns fur, presumably to go back to sleep. Wishing I could do the same, I blow air at the delinquent responsible for this horrible start to my day, who responds with sheer indifference. Perched on my shoulder with a proud gleam in his eye, Roc continues squawking for all hes worth, heralding the sunrise in poor imitation of a rooster.

Dammit Roc, I mutter, rubbing the sleep out of my eyes. Why? Why would you do this?

Eh-Mi-Tuo-Fuo. After screaming for the second time today, I remember the new, unwelcome addition to my entourage a heartbeat too late to save my pride. Sitting cross-legged in the dirt, both of the monks feet rest easily on his thighs, an impressive feat for a man so... rotund. Ignorant (hopefully) to my rude thoughts, the monks eyes remain closed in relaxed meditation as he speaks through Sending, though I wouldnt know it if I wasnt looking directly at him. Good morning brother SanDukkha. Allow this one to enlighten you regarding your query. The Mother made each of Her creations with a purpose in mind. Raised in captivity, the kingfishers Dharma has been altered and now he seeks new purpose in life through mimicry and experimentation. Such is life, trials and tribulations without end. Such sadness, such struggle.

Wow, much sad, so pity. Uh, thanks. Good morning. It was a rhetorical question but at least now I know what kind of bird Roc is. Giving Ping Ping a hug, I continue, So um, I never got your name yesterday.

This one left his secular name behind when he gave up the Three Desires and accepted the Four Noble Truths. A Dharmic name is a private affair, revealed only to those who share our values, and while you are undoubtedly one of the Brotherhood, you have yet to accept your purpose in life, so some secrets must be kept.

...Okay, but what do I call you besides, the monk?

This one can not be called The monk, for he is merely a monk. Otherwise, the appellation is apt and this one wears it with pride. Slowly opening his eyes, he breathes deeply as if inhaling life itself and greets me with a smile, patting the dirt beside him. Come meditate with me brother SanDukkha, he Sends. A new dawn greets us which means the day has long since begun. This one does not mean to nag, but you would do well to rise earlier. Sloth and indolence are signs of an undisciplined mind, their only function to obstruct and hinder ones self.Read latest chapters at novelhall.com Only

No thank you, I have some things that need doing before I can meditate. It's best to just ignore him, but I hate his holier-than-thou routine. Every word out of him reeks of smug self-superiority, pretending like it wasnt his fault I didnt get enough sleep. Who asked him to go all super-stalker and show up in the middle of the night to secretly watch me sleep? I spent hours tossing and turning, worried he would murder me or worse, and now he has the gall to call me undisciplined? Pot, meet kettle. Seriously, I thought they were supposed to be vegetarians. How you get fat eating rabbit food? This bald ham-planet is fatter than fat. Hes so fat, even his chins have chins. Hes so fat, his earlobes sag underneath the extra weight. Hes so fat... No, fat people hate is not okay, but I am irked I tell you, irked. Hmph, talking about my undisciplined mind while he has an undisciplined pie-hole...

Worst of all, how am I supposed to have my morning cuddle session with his fat, bald head breathing down my neck?

Taking my refusal in stride, the monk Sends, This one sees much anger within you, brother SanDukkha. Anger will lead you astray from the correct path, the path of Dharma. You set the Sacred Guardian against the merchants out of churlish vengeance, did you not? To use the Mothers servant like so, such wickedness, such sin. Perhaps the merchant company wronged you, but to fight fire with fire only leaves the whole world scorched. Resent not the ignorant but rather seek to enlighten them. Your hatred does you an injustice. Hatred cannot sustain you nor will it make you whole. Learn the power of forgiveness, for in holding on to anger or hatred, you only harm yourself, like a hot coal clenched in...

Turning a deaf ear to his preaching is almost impossible, but I do my best to keep my morning routine, calming my nerves and divesting myself of unease and uncertainty by watching my pets. Still resting inside her ditch, Ping Ping lazily watches the bun buns speed about in their new wire enclosure. Annoyed by their head-butting and jump-kicking antics, Aurie hops out to join Mafu and the other quins who are still fast asleep. Grooming themselves with beak and branches, Rocs flock is unusually silent as they floof themselves up in preparation to face the day, intent on snatching any shinies which catch their eye and bringing feathery doom to all things edible.

Most people wouldnt understand, but floof watching is therapeutic. Theyre helping me manage my crippling anxiety and debilitating depression, two other emotions I also have in bulk.

Pran and Saluk soon arrive with breakfast for my pets, and feeding time never fails to put a smile on my face. As soon the veggies come out, all the bunnies gather around and set to tippy-tapping their little paws in excitement, their chubby cheeks working furiously to devour everything I place before them. The bun buns are mostly weaned now and although they eat a lot, theyre not too picky so its no trouble keeping them well-fed. Moving on to the birds and Blackjack, I hand feed them one by one, hoping to break them of their habit of stealing and teach them that food will come when theyre patient. My lie about Roc and the others keeping Ping Ping free of pests wont hold forever and its only a matter of time before they piss off the wrong person and come to a bad end.

Plus, once a cloud chaser hare matures, it turns into a flying floof of death and destruction, so teaching Blackjack good manners sooner rather than later seems appropriate.

Unfortunately, the monk takes issue with my actions and makes it clear through Sending. Brother SanDukkha, though you mean well, by feeding these creatures, you interfere with the natural order of things. As this one stated early, each creature has a purpose. What purpose does a pampered wildcat serve, or a dancing bear? You have subdued these creatures, broken them, and in doing so have altered their Dharma. How will they fare should...

Deep breaths, Rain, deep breaths.

Trying not to let his chiding ruin everything, I go about my day as usual, albeit with a fat monk shadowing me. My training regimen earns me another lecture, the monk unhappy with my brutal methods. Such ignorance, such sin, he Sends, shaking his head with a disapproving glower as Pran and Saluk beat me with staves. This is merely suffering without reason. You stand there and force your subordinates to strike you and be struck in return, but what purpose does it serve? Birth is suffering, aging is suffering, illness is suffering, death is suffering, life is suffering, and suffering is life. Why add to it with this senseless brutality? Pain can be an effective tool, yes, but like many tools, one must learn how to properly use it or risk egregious self-harm. Ask and this one shall gladly teach, but you must not abuse the lessons you learn, for...

All this from a card-carrying member of self-flagellating fanatics. Ive been doing this for years and if he doesnt like it, then whyd he invite me to join in the first place?

Needless to say, I didnt ask or encourage him, but he still kept gabbing away and warning me to change my ways for the entire training session. Afterwards, he kicked up a fuss during breakfast about eating meat. Brother SanDukkha, this is not proper. What right do you have to take these poor creatures lives? As we make our way through Samsara, the cycle of life and death, all creatures are equal in the eyes of the Mother. One must strive not to kill a living being, cause it to be killed, nor incite another to kill. Such is the first step on the path towards Nirvana, a part of the Third Truth, the Truth of the End of Suffering which you must inevitably accept. Still your mind, eliminate desire, and escape the cycle of Samsara...

Theres nothing worse than a vegetarian who wont shut up about being a vegetarian. Out of pure spite, I eat everything in my bowl and go back for seconds even though Im not all that hungry.

In the end, Ive ruled all my suspects as unlikely, but one of them has to be guilty, which means I pretty much know nothing.

Ugh. Crime solving is hard

Mafus upside-down head floats into view and puts an end to my fearful pondering, his pout too adorable to ignore. Cowardly though he may be, my sweet quin knows that when my weapons are drawn, its time for work, so he stayed by my side instead of going off to play with his friends. Eager to join them, his wide-eyed pleading stare tugs at my heartstrings and I belatedly give him the signal to go play. Overcome with sheer delight, his adorable quin face stretches into a grin as he darts off to enjoy life, giving no thought to the past or the future and living only in the now.

None of the animals care about the shark attack from yesterday. They only know theyre alive today, so they must live life to its fullest. Its like the monk said, Dwell not in the past, dream not of the future. There was more, but its not important. Whats important is he finally stopped Sending and I have my long awaited peace and quiet, so why waste it getting hung up on things I cant control? I might as well worry about meteors crashing into the world and wiping out all of existence.

What happens next doesnt matter. What matters is how I respond to what happens. Ive chosen to allow fear to paralyze me, but now I make a different choice.

Im here to meditate and find Insight, but that doesnt mean I cant enjoy the beauty and serenity of this underwater world at the same time. While watching the quins and Ping Ping play, my body relaxes and mind empties, not because Im seeking calm but because Im finally allowing it to happen. Its so simple, I dont know why I didnt see it before. It touches on the basics I learned years ago, back in the village where some of my happiest days took place.

Back then, my loving family told me everything I need to become strong, I just wasnt listening.

Calm your mind.

Focus on nothing.

Draw yourself inwards and open yourself to the Energy of the Heavens.

Seek nothing, find everything.

Be aware of nothing, but awareness itself.

Time passes. A minute, an hour, a day.

My nerves tingle, from my scalp down to my toes.

The pores on my skin open.

Barriers fall and the truth slips through.

A cool current reaches out.

It encircles, embraces, and envelopes, a sword and shield against what lays ahead.

Trials and tribulations, but not without purpose.

Not without end.

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