Every full moon night, Sensei and Head Monk went away somewhere. No one knew where they went.
A few nights ago, after some persuasion, Silent Monk and Inquisitive Monk were allowed to accompany them. While Silent Monk did not speak a word, Inquisitive Monk silently filmed the journey. On his return (and without permission from Sensei), he played the film in the auditorium for the monks.
The video showed that the four Monks had trekked to ‘Mountain Cup’ Lake, high above in the mountains. Once they reached the stunning moonlit lakeside, they slipped into a slim boat.
Head Monk silently rowed the boat till they reached the centre of the lake. And there, after folding his hands and bowing to the lake, Sensei began fishing.
Silent Monk and Inquisitive Monk observed that Sensei did not use any bait. Even the hook he used was not made of metal but was fluorescent orange sponge!
Just a few moments after Sensei flung the fishing rod into the placid, calm waters, a large bulging fish caught the hook that Sensei swiftly pulled into the boat. The fish struggled just for a few seconds and died. Then Sensei caressed it and Head Monk slowly slipped the fish back into the waters. Sensei and Head Monk repeated this process all night long.
Intrigued, Silent Monk and Inquisitive Monk also tried their hands at this sort of meditative fishing but no fish came to them. At sunrise, all four of them trekked back at the Monastery.
Back home, the Monks were astonished to see this film and requested Sensei to reveal what was happening.
Sensei told them in a quiet voice, “The fish, like all creatures in this world, seek redemption. On moonlit nights they anxiously wait for my arrival and wait to see me in the boat.”
Sensei paused for a minute and said, “What the fish want is to pass away in the hands of a saviour. That’s a paradox, but true. In folklore, many monsters anger Gods just to be killed by them. The fish want redemption for their mistakes and use my hook.”
Inquisitive Monk apologised for his indiscretion of filming such a sensitive ceremony. Sensei forgave him and said, “Just find your saviour and his hook. Even if you pass away in the process, you will be redeemed.”
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