This morning, Sensei and the monks walked up a mountain trail located on the northeast side the monastery.
When they reached the mountain top, the view was magnificent. The group felt as if they were in heaven.
Humble Monk said, “Let me take a photograph of everyone.”
The monks began to huddle together and squeezed into the frame. Sensei stood in the middle of the group.
Just when Humble Monk was about to start clicking, Head Monk said, “Sensei, can you please let Humble Monk take your place? Can you photograph us instead?”
Sensei immediately walked up to Humble Monk, sent him back to his place and photographed the group.
As the monks began to walk down, many were talking amongst themselves. Angry Monk was loudly saying, “How dare he do this….?”
In the evening after an early dinner, the monks gathered in Buddha Hall. Humble Monk’s camera, with the photographs, was being passed around.
After the group had seen the photos, Angry Monk spoke out loudly, “Head Monk, don’t you have any manners? You asked our Sensei to take the group photograph and kept him out of the picture?”
In his response, Head Monk bowed his head to Sensei and to Angry Monk.
Aggressive Monk said, “Let’s make Head Monk the Monastery Photographer for a year. That should be his punishment.”
Sensei giggled and laughed; the monks kept fuming.
A few minutes later, Sensei asked Head Monk to explain his action.
Head Monk bowed to Sensei and said, “Sensei, you are always with us, everywhere. You are omnipresent and a photograph is not required to prove it…”
Truthful Monk said, “But Head Monk, we wanted to see Sensei amidst us, in the photo.”
Humble Monk smiled and said, “Then look at the photograph again… you may see Sensei.”
The monks rushed to see the photograph again and were shocked to see a misty, silhouette like image of Sensei actually visible in the group photograph!!
Sensei clapped thrice and said, “Your Gods and your Gurus are always with you, everywhere and anywhere. All you need to do is remember them and not bother seeing them.”
*****
