*****
The Rains
Aurangzeb said, "If my teachers are in error, still there is terrible confusion among these faiths. The religion of God is chaos, a mingling of messages and meanings intended for some, but not others, intended for different ages and different peoples. God would surely not permit such a confusion of tongues. What purpose would such confusion serve?"
The boy said, "The message of Moses traveled not far from the Hebrews among whom he arose. The message of Jesus spread further, but still does not embrace the world. The message of Muhammad spread further still, yet many have not heard of him. This is the world. This is how it has been. When Rama left the world and ascended into heaven, the world grew dark, and each day darker still, until Krishna arose to restore what had been lost, to renew religion, to reveal new law according to the needs of the people. The people had lost their way and the teachings of Rama had faded almost beyond recognition. Krishna restored and renewed the world.
"Just as the sun rises, still it sets and night comes. But with morning, the sun swallows up the stars and humbles even the moon. Just as the rains come, still the rains end and springtime rules over the world.
"After Rama defeated Vali and restored Sugriva's wife and kingdom to him, Sugriva said, 'For what you have done, I pledge you my loyalty and life; my people and I will fight in your cause to restore your wife to you, as you have restored mine to me. I will fight under your banner and with you as Lord. We will defeat Ravana. Do not doubt this!'
"Rama thanked Sugriva, but said, 'I have restored righteousness to you and your people and I will lead you in war against Ravana to restore righteousness to the world and to ascend my throne. But winter is coming; the rains will start to fall. I won't lead you to fight Ravana in muddy fields and swamps. But when the rains stop, come to me in the forest and I will again appear before you and we will then find Ravana and destroy him.'
"Sugriva said, 'I will obey exactly as you command. I am your servant and, when the rains have stopped and the trees and flowers green and blossom again, I will return to your home in the forest at the foot of this mountain and offer my treasures, my armies, my very life to you.'
"Months went by while Rama awaited the end of winter. At last, the rains ended and the creatures of the forest reappeared. Cranes and swans returned to the waters. Fish spawned and flowers bloomed. Day and night, which had been silent except for the steady patter of rain, now filled with the sounds of spring. Rama awaited the fulfillment of Sugriva's promise, but Sugriva did not return, nor did he send his army, nor even a single messenger.
"Lakshmana was enraged and spoke to Rama, accusing Sugriva of impiety. He said to his brother, 'He was grateful when you killed Vali, but this gratitude was only a show. Restored to wife and kingdom, he has forgotten you. He bowed so sincerely, his monkey hands clasped together. But like a monkey, he has busied himself with other things, forgetting his benefactor, his friend, his God. I will seek Ravana's kingdom myself and you and I will destroy him and his supporters and rescue Sita. This is within your power, O Rama. But I promise that once this is accomplished, I will return to Kishkinda and cut the throat of that ungrateful monkey, slaughter his army, and burn his kingdom to ashes.'
"Rama said, 'All of these things you say are within my power. But what you propose is not pleasing. Lakshmana, I know Sugriva has failed to keep faith with me and has forgotten his promise to me. Go to Kishkinda and remind him of his promise; if he repents, I am forgiving and he will keep my friendship. If he is obstinate, repenting only his promise, then return to me immediately and I will know he has become my enemy.'
"Lakshmana's anger did not cool, but he obeyed his brother and journeyed from the forest to Kishkinda, the city that Sugriva ruled. As he approached the city, Hanuman, the best of monkeys, saw Lakshmana approaching and understood what was in Lakshmana's heart. Hanuman spoke with Tara, Sugriva's favorite wife. She said, 'Send female warriors to block his way. Lakshmana will hesitate if faced with women. Then speak with him and tell him why Sugriva has not fulfilled his promise. Then, with Lakshmana at the gate, announce his arrival to Sugriva. Let no one stop you.'
"When Lakshmana reached the gates of the city, a well-armed troop of women blocked his way. Lakshmana was still angry but could not decide what to do, though he could overpower any warrior. Hanuman came forward to speak with Lakshmana. The brother of Rama demanded an explanation. Hanuman said, 'I remember Sugriva's promise to you. But Sugriva won't see me. He doesn't leave his bedchamber, but keeps company with women who serve him day and night. He is fat with food; his lusts and whims are satisfied; he drinks only the wine of forgetfulness and indolence. But now that you have come, I will announce to him that you are at the gates of his city acting as Rama's emissary awaiting the fulfillment of that forgotten promise. Though he is my king, today I won't allow Sugriva's guards to keep me me back. The king will hear this message whether he likes it or not.'
"Lakshmana said, 'Go quickly, Hanuman. These warriors, even women, won't keep me waiting long.'
"Hanuman would not be barred from Sugriva's bed chamber. Throwing Sugriva's guards aside, he boldly approached Sugriva who lay upon his bed. The women around the king scattered before Hanuman as leaves before a great wind. Hanuman scolded him, saying, "You are tardy, king of monkeys. It is spring and Rama wonders what has become of you. Lakshmana awaits at the gate of the city for you to present yourself; welcome him and tell him why you haven't fulfilled the promise you made to Rama.'
"For a moment, Sugriva didn't respond. But a look of horror dawned upon his face. He leapt from his bed and took Hanuman by the shoulders. He said, 'Rama forgive me! What have I done?' At once Sugriva, with a guard of honor trailing behind him, rushed to the city gate and, seeing Rama's brother, the king burst into tears and fell to Lakshmana's feet. He said, 'Faithful Hanuman has waked me from a long dream. Forgive me. I have no excuses to bring before you. Lead me to Rama, and let him do with me as I deserve.'
"Lakshmana's heart was moved by Sugriva's words; his anger slipped from him like rainwater from a leaf. He said gently, 'Rama will surely forgive you; he has told me himself that if you will keep your promise to him, he remains your true friend and your supporter.'
"Sugriva immediately gave orders for the disposition of his army, and sent his finest soldiers as scouts to find Ravana's kingdom. Then, he threw off his kingly robes and dressed as an ascetic and, with only Hanuman in attendance, followed Lakshmana back into the forests to face Rama.
"Sugriva hung his head, not noticing the beauty of the trees and flowering plants and birds singing sweetly. With every step, as they approached the mountain where Rama waited, Sugriva's heart became heavier. But Rama appeared suddenly from the thick forests at the foot of his mountain home. He was smiling, with his hands open. Saying, 'Welcome, king of monkeys,' he embraced Sugriva, then Hanuman, and then Lakshmana.
"Sugriva opened his mouth to beg Rama's forgiveness, but Rama interrupted him, saying, 'The rainy season was longer than usual and delayed our plans. But now you're here, and your promise to me completely fulfilled.'
"Sugriva began to cry and said, 'O Rama, you know the truth and how I failed you.'
"Rama said, 'King of Kishkinda, do not abase yourself or be troubled now. What has passed has passed. I am your friend. You don't need to explain yourself. I foresaw this moment before you ever made your promise to me, before you were even in your mother's womb. Now you are here before me; your determination greater than ever, your loyalty to my cause complete, your friendship unassailable, your love for me beyond question. When I sided with you against Vali, did you think this moment was hidden from me? This is a joyous meeting and I welcome you with delight.'
"Hearing this, Sugriva's burden was eased and joy and happiness filled him; he said, 'All that time I spent, having forgotten you in my ignorance and hedonism, all the pleasures I enjoyed were nothing, not even a spark beside the sun of this moment.' When Hanuman heard these words, at that moment Rama entered his heart
and the fresh green forest shone with the glow of Paradise.
"This story has often been repeated, this history relived from age to age. After swearing fealty to God, men forget Him after a time. When His messenger ascends, they revert back to old habits and are found indulging their vile whims so that, upon the return of God's messenger, that fealty is forgotten. During God's absence among men, much is lost, the pallor of death falls over the world. But upon God's return, for He returns to all men in every age, what is forgotten is remembered, what is lost is restored, and the world turns green again.
"Remember Sampathi, the ancient bird, wounded and mutilated by the sun. Sampathi was the brother of Jatayu who died defending Sita from Ravana. Sampathi approached Hanuman and sought word of Jatayu. When Hanuman told him the tale, Sampathi wept piteously. Sampathi said, 'When Jatayu and I were young, we flew into the heavens higher than any other creature. But the sun plotted against us and set me on fire, scorching me. I fell to earth, barely alive, unable to fly again. Only by staying in my shadow was Jatayu preserved and he swore to me that he would find a way to restore me, but now my hope is gone. Although I am proud that Jatayu died honorably, in defense of a woman, I must die alone and unloved.'
"Hanuman said, 'Jatayu defended not just any woman. He died defending Sita, the wife of Rama.'
"Sampathi's eyes brightened and he said, 'My brother has saved me after all! I was told that I would be restored if ever I heard the name of God!' And as he said these words, the great bird transformed before Hanuman's eyes, his flesh becoming strong, his feathers restored, his gigantic wings shadowing the forest. Hanuman was in awe of this majestic bird and said, 'Surely you are descended from Garuda, the mount of Vishnu!' Sampathi said, 'Victory is Rama's. All things are possible through him.'
"Yet the return of God's messenger also precipitates a terrible reaction and a violent rejection from those who practice adharma and from those who oppose God. Though Ravana knew he would die at Rama's hands, and his every hope had fled, still he awoke his gigantic brother, Kumbhakharna, who slept six months at a time, to crush Rama's army and to resist the restoration of dharma. Kumbhakharna injured Hanuman and Sugriva, but in the end he could not overcome Rama.
"Likewise, opposition to the return of God among men takes many hidden forms, even among the kinsmen of God's messenger. Duryodhana in his time was the incarnation of men's weakness, selfishness and malice. Dhritarashtra, his father, who meant no harm and hoped only to keep peace between his sons and his nephews, was often overruled, overwhelmed, and overcome because of his weakness for Duryodhana, his oldest boy. Do not let the Duryodhana of anger and greed make the Dhritarashtra of decency impotent. For brief moments Dhritarashtra shone, but Duryodhana always extinguished that light. Yes, Dhritarashtra rescinded the debts of the Pandava, but at the prompting of Duryodhana compelled the Pandava to gamble again.
"When the war was decided, Ghandari, the wife of Dhritishatra and the mother of Duryodhana, cursed Krishna. She said, 'All that you have built will be broken. All that you have staked will be lost.'
"Krishna said, 'This is true. But another will come to rebuild what was broken, just as I have rebuilt it. The defeat of your sons and the victory of their cousins is but a single stone set into the monument of justice and peace. If it is later cracked, it will be fixed; if it is later lost, it will be replaced, but the monument will rise and my cause will be vindicated.
"'First came Rama, then darkness; when the world turned away from Rama, I appeared. When the age of darkness begins again, take shelter with the Buddha."
Aurangzeb said, "What testimony did the Buddha give to his claim of enlightenment? If any, still we have only the testimony of the one who alleges enlightenment, or those near him who are his partisans. For me, the Quran is sufficient testimony to Muhammad's claim, but what does the Buddha bring?"
The boy answered, "When the Buddha achieved awareness, they say he pressed his fingers to the ground so that the earth itself might acknowledge this truth. To this testify the best known records. Consider the changes his teachings brought and the millions who acknowledged the truth of his teachings; consider the hearts he changed and the worlds of faith and love he built. Even today, his teachings mostly lost, the Buddha is the father of much good in the world. Surely this is sufficient testimony; if not, what testimony could ever suffice you? By what measure do you judge?"
Aurangzeb said, "The Buddha does not teach the existence of God who created the world; his followers say that ignorance created the world. This is error and sufficient testimony that the Buddha was no messenger of God."
The boy said, "No, the Buddha taught that our perception of the world, the world as we make it in our minds, is born of ignorance."
Aurangzeb said, "The Buddha says nothing of God! In what scrap of remaining scripture does he speak of Him?"
The boy said, "When the Buddha speaks of the ultimate reality, the reality that is both transcendent and immanent, he does not say 'God,' but there is not another word for it. It is not remembered that the Buddha ever spoke of union with God, but there is no other way of understanding the path to true awareness, freedom from suffering and illusion. Among us, he was promised by Krishna, 'Take refuge in Buddha.' He was the shelter of his age, and they were righteous who sought shade beneath the pavilion of his holiness. I cannot speak for those who claim this or that teaching for the Buddha; but consider that his birth, his life, his death are all harbingers of others yet to come, to restore religion. Yet you come with Muhammad's message, much distorted by your refusal to acknowledge those in whose path Muhammad himself has walked.
"Rama, Krishna, and the Buddha were God's messengers. No one in this land doubts this. In Brahma's name they created a new order. In Vishnu's name they maintained and preserved dharma. In Shiva's name they destroyed what came before, however hallowed. This destruction was not repudiation, but the unfolding of God's will. The young man does not repudiate his infancy; nor does the old man reject his youth; for the path of infancy and the path of youth arrive at their ends. The butterfly does not cling to the cocoon, nor the heron to the egg from which she hatched. The old man does not sleep in the crib of his infancy. Nor does the young man crawl into the grave."
Aurangzeb said, "You still run from my questions, boy. You say that Rama died and the world strayed. Then Krishna arose and restored religion. And Krishna died and the world strayed again until Buddha appeared. You have spoken of Rama and Krishna at length, but have said nearly nothing of the Buddha. Tell me, if you can, which stories and scriptures of the Buddha are authentic and how they are consistent with the journey of Rama and the teachings of Krishna."
The boy said, "If you had listened to me, you would not ask. You would know the truth of the Buddha and acknowledge his station. You would cast away the accretions of tradition, the manipulations of monks, the dissimulation of doubters. You would see him emerge, calm, at peace, tolerant and wise from the thousand myths that have descended upon him like a black rain.
"Find the truth of Buddha in the stories of Krishna and Rama, for these are stories he told to his disciples. After the Buddha ascended, Ananda, his cousin and closest disciple, said, 'He told us of Rama and Krishna that we may learn a little of him. He recounted their trials, their troubles and teachings that we might recognize them in him and him in them. They are the past lives of God among us; they are His past lives and His future lives; for He descends among men from time to time to renew dharma, to establish justice, and to show us the surest path to self-annihilation, which is union with God. As many times as He has appeared among men, so too will He appear in the future. Though he was my cousin, Siddhartha Gautama who walked among men and was a man like me, He was the Buddha who walks among us in every age. Seek Him out in every world of His worlds. This is dharma.'"
Aurangzeb said, "Yet the Hindus and the Buddhist agree on little doctrine. Hindus worship a multitude of gods, neglecting God. And Buddhists worship no gods, neglecting God. How do you explain it?"
The boy answered, "I have explained it to you again and again. I will not deny that some Buddhists are godless, and others worship too many gods. But the essence of the Buddha's teaching emphasized liberation from the fruits of action. There are many disciplines, hallowed by time and tradition, that are intended to shake off the vision of maya, like so much dust, from our earthly bodies. Yet consider the long years, the painful austerities and deprivations men undergo, and yet they remain prisoners of samsara while those closest to God, motivated by a single desire to be near Him, who by this choose His will over their own and extinguish all other desire, they are in an instant transported to Him and are in union with Him. Ascetics may see these devotees as children but playing. Consider the gopis, the women closest to Krishna. Laughing they have broken the wheel. Praising, singing, and loving Him, they become not His consorts, but His true friends and companions. They smile upon Him, and He upon them. And for this smile, ascetics would offer up their lives and all pleasures. Yet even with this offering they may not obtain that smile from Him that the gopis attained through love. Love is often maya, yes. But love of God is the key to His treasury.
"As for the various scriptures belonging to the Buddhists, they do not know that the Ramayana and the Mahabharata themselves are his testimony. Ananda said of the Buddha, 'The wise are right to say that the Vedas are best understood through the study of the actions and words of Rama and Krishna, for He is Rama and He is Krishna and He Himself is the Vedas. To seek Him is dharma. To find Him is to find within yourself the atman. To obey Him is to break the wheel of samsara. To love Him is to achieve union with Him."