One of the oldest and most revered rooms in the Monastery was Buddha’s Parlour. It was a small, wooden study with a stony fireplace and a tall chimney. Very few monks were invited inside the parlour by Sensei.
A few weeks ago, Sensei looked disturbed. He informed the monks that he had accidentally forgotten the keys of Buddha’s Parlour inside, while locking the room. There were no duplicate keys. Sensei did not want to break the lock to prevent damaging the ancient door of the room. He asked for monks’ advise.
Knowledge Monk said, “Sensei, the chimney is the best way to get inside the room. We need someone to wriggle through the chimney, and enter the room.”
Sensei accepted the idea.
Knowledge Monk then said, “Sensei, the world’s greatest chimney thief was released last week from the Central Prison. Maybe I can motivate him to try?”
Sensei accepted the proposal.
A few days later, Knowledge Monk appeared before Sensei, quite crestfallen. He said, “Sensei, the Chimney Thief refused me. He said that he had vowed never to climb down a chimney again. I tried very hard but he did not agree.”
Sensei nodded quietly, while the other monks volunteered to try and convince the Chimney Thief.
As the weeks passed by, none of the monks could succeed in bringing Chimney Thief to the Monastery. Truthful Monk said, “The Chimney Thief refused to come. He is very ashamed of his past and said that he could not face Sensei.”
Business Monk said, “I tried to bribe him. He just laughed me off.”
Angry Monk did not make any effort to try and meet Chimney Thief. He growled and said, “Sensei is getting lazy and old. He can easily meditate and open the door, but he wants to torture us by making us meet fallen men such as robbers and thieves.”
Just when things seemed hopeless, something amazing transpired…
This morning just after silence meditation, Sensei and the monks were surprised to see a man in torn clothes, covered in soot and dust slowly calling Sensei’s name.
The man said, “Sensei, Sensei, please come, quickly! Buddha’s Parlour has been opened!”
The monks immediately recognized the voice as the voice of Head Monk. Everyone excitedly rushed towards Buddha’s Parlour.
When they reached there, they were surprised to see Head Monk with a man outside the open door. The two men looked ragged and it was clear that they had climbed down the chimney of the room. Head Monk bowed to Sensei and beckoned him to enter Buddha’s Parlour.
Sensei quietly walked into the room, stayed inside for a few minutes and then came outside with an ornately decorated key. He had tears streaming down his face.
The monks laughed with joy, clapped and quickly assembled in a small circle.
Sensei asked Head Monk to tell everyone what had happened.
Head Monk bowed to Sensei and said, “After hearing how Chimney Thief had refused the monks to come to the Monastery, I tried becoming a chimney thief myself. I attempted climbing down many chimneys in the Monastery at night. It was very difficult. After failing in all my attempts I became frustrated and visited Chimney Thief. He was surprised to see my bruises, soot covered face and torn clothes and patiently heard my story. He then agreed to accompany me to the Monastery and we both climbed down the chimney of Buddha’s Parlour. Sensei, please bless Chimney Thief for helping us today.”
Sensei looked at Chimney Thief very benevolently and patted him thrice on his head. The man began to weep.
Sensei then clapped three times and said, “To accomplish anything significant, we have to change ourselves, rather than changing others. We have to become the change, live it and make it our meditation, our religion. When we try to change hard enough, we meet our Buddha. And that Buddha helps us find what we are looking for.”
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