A Shining Example from a Buddhist Monk

Have you been on a bus and had to give up your seat to a healthy young Buddhist priest? Sometimes one who has not even shaved his head? Well, I have. More times than I care to count. I do so gladly…. especially since the seat in front is reserved for the Buddhist clergy. Sometimes though, I must shamefully admit, I do so rather resentfully, given that our 175 bus route is about the worst, most crowded route in the world. You long for a seat and you finally get it, and then ……… quicker than a flash of yellow …….. you are deprived of your coveted seat. Even when you immediately rise to your feet and give up your seat it would be taken without the least acknowledgement of thanks.

Many is the time that I’ve seen an old archchi tremblingly getting up from her seat in the front to make way for a strapping Buddhist priest who would arrogantly and most times impatiently wait for her to move so that he can claim his rightful seat. I also seen heavily pregnant ladies and mothers with babies and little children willingly giving up their seats. Anyway…….. the reason why I started writing this was because about two weeks ago, I had the great fortune to come across a Buddhist priest who restored my faith in their kind (or at least some of them).

It happened once again in our crowded 175 bus. I was seated in the front seat along with a mother and her child. And in Rajagiriya in gets a Priest. Of course immediately the mom and I both got to our feet to give him his seat. When he saw us, he said "na, na ohoma inna", and forcefully motioned us sit down again and proceeded to take a seat on the opposite side that a gentleman offered. That was sooooooo nice!!! It quite made my day! Here was one priest who practiced ‘karunawa’ and ‘maityriya. My hats off to him and others of his ilk! Of course

I WAS feeling rather uncomfortable sitting in his place while he sat in the ‘common mortal’s’ seat. But he smiled and made a ‘stay’ motion with his hands several times when I tried to move. His shining example of humility made him (in my eyes) a GREAT man of his vocation. Yessssss I’m glad of that fleeting meeting!!!