Art of War to Art of Living - Chapter 9

Chapter 8 THE BUDDHIST CIRCUIT TRAIL “Let the past make you better, not bitter.” — Gautam Buddha Upon alighting at the airplane, the two acquaintances headed to the immigration counter. As Anav stood waiting at the baggage carousel, Xiao Ming caught up with him. She was still mildly miffed with Anav. She felt somewhat cheated with the fact that he had not mentioned the source of his knowledge right away. According to her, Anav had ingeniously intertwined the pithy and pertinent quotations of Sun Tzu with podcasts on Buddha, concealing the fact that his knowledge was essentially through the podcasts. By a strange quirk both of them had been exposed to Buddhist teachings that had resonated with them. Anav had discovered Buddha through some Chinese friends and his mentor’s podcasts, while Xiao Ming had stumbled upon Buddha through an array of strange co-incidences. After some thought on the matter, it dawned on Xiao Ming that when in pursuit of the unalloyed truth, an individual cannot play a game, or adopt the card of victim and guilt consciousness. It was rather churlish of her to keep latching on to the irritation, considering that she had had a very interesting and elevating conversation with Anav. As they were waiting for their luggage, Anav hastened to add, “Look Xiao Ming, it was never my intention to befuddle you.” “My friend has been insisting for a long time now that I learn Vipassana. He thinks it will help to shift my extremely hardened, logical left-centred mind to something more fulfilling. The easy part is that there are no rituals attached to the process. Otherwise, I doubt I would have even considered the course. I definitely want to complete the course before I get back to Shenzhen. During this trip to India, I intend to participate in a Vipassana course for whatever it’s merit. Maybe any other meditation technique would also do,” Anav mused. “So, off I go to my pit stop, before heading to Chennai,” Anav added cheerily as the two stepped out of the airport building. “Hey Anav! Here, here!” called out a familiar voice. It was Ramesh, Anav’s friend turned mentor. “Oh, he looks so strikingly similar to the bearded person with the long flowing hair! The image I saw at Phoenix,” Xiao Ming thought to herself. “He appears so radiant,” was Xiao Ming’s second thought. “Is he the person I was destined to meet?” Xiao Ming texted her inner most thoughts to Lu Yao, though she knew he would still be airborne. Anav introduced Xiao Ming to his friend Ramesh. The bold and beautiful Chinese woman was indisputably impressed with the pacific personality of Ramesh. It was mid-afternoon and Xiao Ming was sweating and could not bear the heat. She was desperate to head to cooler climes of her hotel room. She was booked in the upmarket Vivanta. A cab arranged by the hotel was to pick her up and the driver was sending frantic messages to Xiao Ming “Do not panic. The driver will find us in a few minutes. So, what brings you to India?” Ramesh inquired. “It is a long story. I have narrated a part of it to your friend,” Xiao Ming replied. “He almost managed to get to me to believe that he is an expert on Buddhism, which he is not, he’s a mere novice like me.” Anav laughed it away. “She thinks I am an extraordinary military strategist like Sun Tzu and a spiritual soul like Buddha, all rolled into one!” “To be honest though, her reasons for travelling to India are rather dramatic! Xuan Zang is her lodestar but she intends to find her own truth.” “Anav, are you mocking me?” Xiao Ming protested. Before Anav could come up with a repartee, the ostentatious cab reached the spot where the trio stood. “Myself, Shamsher Singh Gill; your chauffer Madam Xiao Ming,” a sprightly looking Sikh announced. “Well, this riveting exchange of ideas has to be concluded, but without any conclusion,” remarked Xiao Ming. “I have to pick up the threads and travel solo on this voyage just like Buddha and Xuan Zang,” she said, as her luggage was loaded into the waiting cab. Anav and Ramesh confabulated in Hindi, as cars began to line up and the impatient honking began almost within seconds. “Sirji tussi cheti karo …gaddion di line lag gayi hai. Puulice aa gayi to panga ho jayega,” the exasperated driver remarked. “Well Xiao Ming, your journey begins now,” said Anav as she got into the cab. It was decided the two friends would meet Xiao Ming at her hotel that evening. **************** “Am I pleased that Anav is coming over this evening? Am I attracted to his intelligence in any manner?” Xiao Ming thought aloud and parried away the query. She had Lu Yao in her life and the Buddhist trip was uppermost in her mind. Xiao Ming jotted down on her phone to mention this episode to Lu Yao. “I was able to confide several things, confront the demons in my brain. Perhaps he and his friend may provide resolution to my mental trauma,” Xiao Ming thought wistfully. After she had checked-in at the hotel, Xiao Ming hit the gym. Following a strenuous workout, she moved to the swimming pool. She felt cramped after the long hours of immobility during the journey. As the sun was setting, a bellboy arrived at the swimming pool announcing some visitors to meet her. Xiao Ming hurried out of the pool and when she checked the time, realised that she was late for her meeting with Anav and Ramesh. The young woman, feeling refreshed and rejuvenated against the cyclorama of a crimson red sun quickly drew herself out of the pool. After she called Anav and explained that she would join them shortly, she hurried to change. A feeling of great joy gripped Xiao Ming’s brain. For reasons beyond her imagination, she felt childlike and almost ran to her room. Xiao Ming was grinning as she approached the friends. “I’m awfully apologetic to have kept you waiting.” In a short while the triumvirate had settled down for dinner at Tipple, the delectable restaurant that offered international cuisine. Xiao Ming was in a celebratory mood. They stuck to vegetarian fare. As Ramesh joked, there was never much of a choice for vegetarians other than the ubiquitous paneer or cottage cheese, in various shapes, sizes and flavours. Xiao Ming repeated her story for Ramesh’s benefit. “When Xiōngdì was taken over, for the first time I realised what it is to be discredited, almost non-existent. That awful feeling is what provoked my search for some meaning in life, and of course that movie showed me the path towards Buddhism,” she concluded. Ramesh listened in fascination as she narrated her chance encounter with the travels of Xuan Zang and her experiences at the Buddhist temples. “I was financially compensated by the government, but the money could in no manner satiate my inner inadequacies and the inherent lack. In my period of misadventure, the only ballast has been some hazy memories of Bao and Bai, the two toys which triggered my imagination to develop the Virtual Buddy app,” she added. “And recently in Lu Yao, I have met my man in life who has stood by me like a rock.” Ramesh looked at Anav and Xiao Ming, waiting for an explanation about Bao and Bai. “You’d scarcely believe the story, Ramesh. Bao and Bai were two toys given to Xiao Ming by her parents and were once her sounding boards, her alter egos, if I may call them so,” Anav said. “Correct me if I am wrong,” he continued glancing at Xiao Ming, “but over a period of time they emerged as Xiao Ming’s soul mates.” “And … ironically, they were responsible for triggering the thought process to develop her app.” “You know the most extraordinary people in the world do not have a career; they are visionaries and are blessed with a mission. I have been practising meditation techniques and these have altered my life,” Ramesh softly uttered. “Really? How? And what actually is meditation? I’m really curious,” enquired Xiao Ming. “Hmm … how do I describe it to you? I quote what I believe is the closest description, ‘Mind without any agitation is meditation. Living in the present moment is meditation. Mind that has no hesitation, no anticipation is meditation. Mind that has come back home, to the source, is meditation. Mind that becomes no mind is meditation’. I know it’s a lot to take-in at one go …but ponder on it.” Xiao Ming looked at Ramesh, indisputably impressed. “Xiao Ming, my friend is my cushion, my ballast. He was once a highly successful tech guy and worked in India’s Silicon Valley, Bengaluru. Unfortunately, he encountered great personal tragedy because of which he moved to Delhi. His wife was also a competent tech and they were leading a blissful marital life. However, troubles come in threes and his wife succumbed to cancer and Ramesh was absolutely shattered. This affected his performance and he was frequently absenting himself from work. One day he heard a talk by Vandana, a danseuse and also a life coach and meditation teacher. This was a life turner. Inspired by her talk he shifted base to Delhi to reconstruct the broken pieces of his life. It is in Delhi that he began pursuing his passions, writing and theatre. He’s written a few books and also writes for OTT platforms.” Ramesh continued his story, “Vandana, now my wife, introduced me to yoga and meditation. Now we jointly write books on self-motivation.” Anav’s eyes welled-up as his friend delved into the past. “Today Ramesh and Vandana together teach yoga and breathing and meditation techniques to seekers, stock individuals and people who wish to assuage their frayed nerves and minds. And they’re a really good team, I may add,” Anav added turning to Xiao Ming. “And that’s not all. They also keep staging plays and dance dramas. Vandana is a competent editor who chisels their works. In fact, they are pretty well known in what is known as Lutyens’ Delhi,” Anav said. As she sat listening to Ramesh’s story, Xiao Ming was struck by how dramatic the lives of even the average everyday-person could be. “You have really weathered a storm and survived tumultuous times. I salute your robust mind,” she said as she stood up. “Yes indeed! Meditation has really helped me and it is a powerful tool. I have been goading Anav to learn Vipassana, but he has been rejecting my proposal. Of late though, he has been listening to a few podcasts on the neuroscience of Vipassana,” added Ramesh. “What is exactly is Vipassana?” enquired a curious Xiao Ming with eagerness. “Well, Vipassana or vipaśyanā literally implies ‘special-seeing’. It is often described as a form of meditation that seeks ‘insight into the true nature of reality’. The technique analyses the impermanence, suffering and unsatisfactory nature of it all,” Ramesh explained. “Xiao Ming has planned visits to the important Buddhist sites in India, Ramesh. In fact, that is the reason she has travelled to India. Though some important sites are no longer in India, still there would be a large number of places for you to visit and soak in the tenets of Buddhism,” Anav said. “Will you join me?” Xiao Ming asked Anav with a quizzical look. “Well… I have been listening to Ramesh’s podcasts quite intently and have a few plans in my mind. But for now, I intend to spend a few days with my friend at Delhi.” This declaration by Anav was followed by a prolonged silence which was broken by Ramesh. “Xiao Ming, Vipassana imparts the quintessential quality of maintaining equilibrium and equipoise. There should be no perturbation in your thought process, nothing which should deter you from your exploration. It is always a solitary walk by any serious seeker. So, whether Anav joins you or not, should not deter you in any manner,” Ramesh spoke. “You should proceed with your expedition.” Xiao Ming thought to herself … Lu Yao would encourage her in the adventure. Anav should not be a crutch in her discovery. She had the support of Lu Yao, memories of the magical events which she had experienced of late and the travels of Xuan Zang which would be her guiding light. Not to forget the shooting stars and comets with a trail of hope which always ignited positivity in her heart. “Ok guys, I will embark upon this journey to unearth for myself the knowledge imparted by Buddha. I had already booked myself on the Buddhist Circuit trail while I was in Kuala Lumpur,” Xiao Ming said as she sat in a meditative pose with her eyes half closed and her left and right hands in gyaan mudra and chhin mudra respectively. The trio exploded into laughter at this impromptu riotous act by her. “That’s a truly brave seeker!” Ramesh shook hands with Xiao Ming. Anav spoke up to reveal his plans. “I will reveal my cards now, no big mystery! After visiting my parents in Chennai, I will follow Ramesh’s advice. I have to be cured of this nagging spondylitis. Ramesh did not explicitly mention any place, but he was of the opinion that visiting the Golden Temple had been a fabulous experience for him. And yes, Rishikesh is the yoga capital of India, in fact of the world. Of course, he has been recommending that I undertake a Vipassana course at Nasik. I plan to do that too. Then I’ll head down south and visit some temples in South India. Anytime you wish to join me, you are welcome,” Anav wound up the conversation as they said their goodbyes and left for Ramesh’s residence. Xiao Ming nodded her head, checking her mail as Anav had asked her to. Soon she headed back to her room. The elegant lady from Shenzhen opened the blinds of her room and was pleasantly surprised to see a shooting star streaking across the sky. “This celestial phenomenon bodes well for my expedition on the Buddhist Circuit! I need to share this with Lu Yao.” “Am I attaining enlightenment tonight?” chuckled Xiao Ming to herself as she snuggled into bed after a long conversation with Lu Yao, bringing him up to date with all that had happened since her departure from Kuala Lumpur. “Like the moon, come out from behind the clouds! Shine … meditate. Live purely. Be quiet. Do your work with mastery,” were the sagacious words of the Sakyamuni. As she ruminated on these words, sleep overtook Xiao Ming and soon she was lost to the world. Meanwhile in Shenzhen, Lu Yao was intrigued by Anav and the discussions between his girlfriend and Anav. Her gripping and tantalising conversations on her life with a total stranger on the flight did disturb him. He decided he would ask her to be a little more circumspect before revealing everything about herself to perfect strangers. *************** Xiao Ming’s Tryst with Buddha “Gautam Buddha lived between 563BC and 480 BC. He was born Siddhartha and son of King Suddhodana and Mayadevi of Sakya dynasty. Siddhartha married princess Yasodhara and they had a son, Rahula,” were the opening remarks of Dev, the guide, as the tourists embarked on the first leg of the Buddhist Circuit tour. A group of Buddhist backpackers had arrived from Colombo at the Taj Vivanta in New Delhi the previous night. At the crack of dawn, the following morning they departed for Lucknow by the Swarn Shatabdi Express. Upon arrival at Lucknow the group was suitably snowed by the hospitality as the trippers travelled by a SUV to Shravasti. The tourists alighted from the confines of their vehicle and contemplated the place where Buddha was said to have lived during the last twenty-four years of his life. They were subsumed with a sense of serenity, all the cobwebs and demons in their mind annihilated. The Sri Lankans visited the Thai Temple, adjacent to the spot where Buddha was believed to have meditated. Xiao Ming chose not to visit the Thai temple. Instead, she decided to sit and meditate under the very tree that the Sakyamuni was said to have meditated. It was a life transforming experience. Initially my mind was cannonaded with negative thoughts. Dark demons, fear gripped my mind, but I decided not to open my eyes and just focussed on keeping my eyes closed and concentrating. Slowly my mind settled down. I could feel a gentle shower of fragrant flowers dropping on me from above. It was a wondrous experience. There was a massive space of silence. I had visions again of the monk turning into Buddha and the figure of Buddha metamorphosing into a bearded man and suddenly I awoke. Xiao Ming remembered her experience as she texted Lu Yao, who could barely understand or appreciate them. My dearest one, at the subterranean level a lot has shifted between Shenzhen and Shravasti. I wish you all the very best in your Buddhist tour. Please be careful and do not wander away from your group. To her, the wondrous experience at Shravasti was encapsulated in a tiny equation: Peace = ∞ Why this fetish for mathematical equations? Xiao Ming’s mind always operated from a logical space. She had never believed in supernatural powers easily. Maybe in some cranny corner of her mind they existed. To her, anything that could be expressed logically existed. She took to logic as a fish to water and found an unusual comfort in it. The logistics of the trip were planned to the T. Soon the tourists traversed to Nauthanva from Shravasti, by the Panvel-Gorakhpur Express. The train was ambling along the broad-gauge tracks as she compared it to the trains in China. Bathrooms on the train were undeniably dirty and stinking. Food was littered across the passage of the train, but passengers travelling seemed unmindful of the filth in the train. Xiao Ming took it as a learning process. China had leapfrogged and India too was planning to launch bullet trains. She would have been a child when her parents travelled by such trains. Nauthanva is the gateway to Nepal. After the mandatory customs clearance and police-check, the globetrotters had a meal and visited Sahet and Mahet. Then began the enchanting drive to Lumbini, nestled in the hills. The guests stayed at a glitzy hotel there. Lumbini was a part of Kapilvastu, the erstwhile kingdom of King Suddhodana. The visitors walked around for several kilometres paying obeisance at various Buddhist shrines before they reached the spot where Buddha is believed by the devout to have arrived on planet Earth on a full moon night. Here the Sri Lankans and the solitary Chinese meditated at the shrine for a considerable period of time, slipping into sync with the ethereal atmosphere. Next the tourists saw the spectacle of an ancient Ashoka pillar and prayed at the Maya Devi temple. Later they drove down to Kushinagar, spending the night at a modest though well-furnished hotel. The next morning Xiao Ming walked around the streets and recalled the events of her life. Suddenly, a quotation by Buddha painted on a hoarding caught her attention. It read, “Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind in the present moment.” The saying stunned her to the core as her past came crashing down. I have been living in the past, on a fault-finding mode. Bao and Bai, the Virtual Buddy app, none exist any longer. How long will my mind relieve the past? Dwelling on the past only increases negativity. This essential truth dawned on her in a flash. Should she consign her past on the streets of Kushinagar where Buddha attained Mahaparinirvana? Was she to finally bury her past? Was she not to think at all about her future, instead just live in the present moment? Was it not true the Virtual Buddy app was an exposition of the siblings that she and many of her generation had never had? Her mind travelled to the wondrous meditation she had experienced at Shravasti. Had that been a glimpse of the real truth, the peace that was discovered by Buddha through enormous practice? That Xuan Zang had discovered through his travels? Lu Yao smiled as he read the text from Xiao Ming, describing her mental tussle. He hoped a radiant and fresh Xiao Ming living in the present would now appear at Shenzhen. As her mind was being cannonaded with such seemingly wild thoughts, Xiao Ming gave the idea some more thought. She realised that she was still not robust enough to let go of her scaffolding and walked back to her room with misty eyes. Xiao Ming had to still come out of the shadows of the past. At the crack of dawn, the sightseers proceeded to visit the Rambhar Stupa and Mahaparinirvana temple. Even though centuries had elapsed, the travellers experienced profound silence and amazing vibrations at these Buddhist shrines. The tourists were enthralled and keen on spending some more time at Kushinagar. She remembered what Ramesh had said. “It was a devastating moment when Nandini, my first wife, succumbed to cancer. We were such a happy-go-lucky couple, working hard, partying hard and enjoying travels and vacations across India and even overseas. But one incident injected enormous pain in my life and I was left rudderless. My parents and sibling tried their best. I was on anti-depressants. But then arrived the life-turner in my life when I heard Vandana. Her dance performance followed by a motivational talk pulled me out of the cesspool of negativity.” “I finally learnt to distinguish between pain and suffering. Soon after that I set up my studio and re-invented myself. You see, as Buddha said, ‘pain is certain, suffering is optional’.” “I shifted base to Delhi and began working briefly, then started writing. Alongside I also started trying alternative therapies to help myself heal. Reiki, Pranic healing, I tried everything. Around that time, I did my first course in Vipassana. All these techniques opened the aperture of my thought process. I used to frequently attend the motivational talks by Vandana. Somewhere down the line Vandana and I were attracted to each other. I came to know about her painful past, how her alcoholic husband deserted her. We started living together and I began to write for her dance dramas. Our first production was called Shiva Ranjani based on a classical Indian raga. And over a few years, I was writing, directing plays, assisting Vandana in her dance dramas. A new dimension was added to my personality when, I began teaching yoga, breathing and meditation. Today I am happy, blessed with energy and living what I term as life positive,” Ramesh’s story resonated in her mind. With her recent experiences at Shravasti, Lumbini and Kushinagar, Xiao Ming was quite certain that through practise of breathing techniques and meditation an individual could experience inner purity which would then leapfrog into external purity. With conclusive evidence on hand that a person ought to stave-off suffering and emerge triumphant, Xiao Ming was deeply influenced by Ramesh’s life, the manner in which he fought back valiantly. She decided to overcome her privation by waging a similar battle. It had been a few days since she last spoke with Lu Yao. Suddenly her phone rang, announcing a call from her boyfriend. The two were happily engrossed in a long conversation and discussing travels so far, and also Ramesh and Anav. “What about Vandana … you have not met her so far?” Lu Yao enquired. “Not yet, but I shall after the Buddhist Circuit. It would be inspiring to interact with her,” she replied With much reluctance the group departed from Kushinagar to Gorakhpur and boarded the train to Patna, the capital city of Bihar, a 255 km journey. After checking into a comfortable and luxurious hotel once they arrived in Patna, the pilgrims headed to Bodhgaya and saw the Mahabodhi Temple, built to the east of the sacred tree under which Buddha attained enlightenment. The temple was a majestic structure, seventeen feet high on a base five feet square, with a soaring pyramidal tower surmounted by a stupa. The Vajrasana or Diamond Throne lying between the Bodhi Tree and the temple marked the actual spot where Buddha received illumination. A gilded Buddha smiled upon the visitors from a niche in the wall of the temple, and his footsteps were carved in stone and held floral offerings from the devout. She noticed that astonishing peace pervaded the atmosphere as though lending credence to the legend that Buddha attained insight at this very spot. Xiao Ming could feel the peace in her very cells. “Today Buddhism is world famous religion. Dalai Lama, Richard Gere, famous Hollywood star, all Buddhist,” Dev the tour guide enlightened the tourists. “Everyone comes here to learn Vipassana, very important meditation of Buddhism.” “Madam, you want to learn Vipassana after return to Delhi?” he asked Ming, knowing that she would be staying on in Delhi for a few days upon their return. “I take you to Vipassana centre in Delhi. Xiao Ming merely smiled at him. “Should I call up Ramesh or Anav?” Xiao Ming thought to herself. “Perhaps it won’t be prudent,” she countered her own thought. She remembered Ramesh’s remark that this was a solitary quest like that of Buddha and Xuan Zang. Xiao Ming was aware of these facts. But there was a fundamental difference between her odyssey and the voyages of her illustrious predecessor Xuan Zang westwards. Xuan Zhang was a Buddhist monk in search of the original, authentic teachings of Buddha. He was a man with messianic zeal. Xiao Ming on the other hand was a person in search of herself, a quest to discover her inner self. She seemed more in pursuit of Buddha, less of Buddhism. She knew her journey was more to transform her life, to find answers to the unknown factors in her life. Basically, she was inviting tectonic changes into her life by acknowledging that she had to balance the working and effects of the left-centred brain and the right-centred one. The minds of the pilgrims were filled with serenity and calmness as they travelled to the ancient city of Benares and checked into the estimable Radisson Hotel that evening. The pilgrims paid obeisance at the Kashi Vishwanath temple followed by darshan at the Kaal Bhairav and Sankat Mochan Hanuman temples. Though at both these temples they had to be satisfied with a darshan from the outer corridors due to the prevalent rules. Nevertheless, it was an enriching experience. Thereafter they travelled to Sarnath. It was at Sarnath that the Sakyamuni delivered his first sermon, upon experiencing the pristine truth. Sarnath is around ten kilometres from Benares and houses numerous Buddhist shrines which include the famous Dhamekh Stupa, the seat of the holy Buddha. They also visited the ruins of Dharmarajika Stupa and Mulagandhakuti Temple, where Lord Buddha is said to have rested and meditated while in Sarnath. A day filled with several voyages was rounded off after witnessing the majestic spectacle of the Ganga Aarti at Assi Ghat, on the banks of the Ganges. The next morning, their guide Dev announced, “All ladies like to buy Benarsi silk sarees.” Some men in the group expressed a wish to rest in their tourist van rather than indulge in shop-hopping. Xiao Ming opted to go shopping. Aeons ago and even until a few decades back, the devout in the Vanaprastha (the third of the four ashramas as per Hinduism) stage of their lives retired to this township to cast away their mortal selves and to seek salvation from the perennial cycle of birth and death. The sutra of opposite yet complementary values is epitomized at the ghats of Varanasi. As the dead are consigned to the flames at the Manakarnika Ghat, at the other end of the spectrum the high priests of Varanasi chant mantras to invoke the benediction of Lord Shiva and Ma Ganga. This dynamic equation represents the creation and destruction of human life. She was astonished to see half burnt corpses in the river. It sent shivers down her spine. How are people cremated at one end of the spectrum and paying obeisance and celebrating at the other? Varanasi, Kashi or Benares, the bustling town is a cradle of cacophony and symphony. Through continuous creation, destruction and experiencing silence, the human mind is transported from the clangour of modern life to the calm of the sublime. Xiao Ming took in the sights as she walked through the crowded roads and narrow alleys, listening to a podcast describing the ancient city. That afternoon the voyagers boarded the Vande Bharat Express, among the fastest trains in India and reached New Delhi by 11p.m. The next day the group from Sri Lanka flew back to Colombo while Xiao Ming stayed at the hotel. “Hey, Lu Yao I am travelling by one of the fastest trains in India and am reminded of our first train journey. Do you recall it? It changed my life, perhaps yours as well. Do all train journeys change lives?” Xiao Ming asked in jest. After an initial silence Lu Yao replied, “After capturing your arresting face through the camera of my eyes, when I was blown by the lovely double eyelids, I jostled for the seat next to you. Yes, my dear, I do remember our first encounter, and of course Bao and Bai. You seem happy. Looking forward to seeing you, Xiao Ming.” “That was very dramatic. You are becoming a poet!” Xiao Ming remarked, smiling. “Maybe! Are you planning a trip to Agra too? Take care and please be very cautious when interacting with strangers,” Lu Yao answered. After speaking for a couple of more minutes, Lu Yao and Xiao Ming said goodbye to each other. Xiao Ming never realised that a week had elapsed. She had been away from China for a considerable period of time but was unparalleled in her mission. The plan was to spend a couple of days in Delhi and then visit the iconic Taj Mahal. Xiao Ming dialled a number and hoped the person would receive the call. She attempted a couple of times, but in vain. Xiao Ming always kept herself mobile to remain fit and jogged and practiced Tai Chi despite her physical ailments. She hit the gym and then swam for a while. Back in her room, she came across a quote of Buddha on a flier that fell out of the newspaper. “Health is the greatest gift, contentment the greatest wealth, faithfulness the best relationship,” thus spoke Lord Buddha. Xiao Ming could not help but observe that just about every thought she had and every action that she carried out was manifesting itself in words. Was it a new phenomenon or was she alert to the signs for the first time in her life? As she was pondering this new line of thought the ringing of the mobile phone broke into her thoughts. “Hi, Xiao Ming! How was your trip?” asked Anav. “Oh! Hi! How are you?” she replied. “Doing good.” “We returned today from the Buddhist Circuit tour,” Xiao Ming said. “It really was worth it. I can’t tell you what amazing experiences I had every step of the way!” “So, what next? Where do you drop the anchor next in the course of self-discovery?” asked Anav. “Well, you tell me your plans. I thought you would be joining me,” replied Xiao Ming expectantly.