could see more clearly. His smile grew brighter and his hands rose to
touch the sides of my face.
“Your eyes,” he said softly, “They are very alive. You have found
something?”
I laughed. “I think so,” I said gratefully. “Thank you, Haridas.
Thank you for helping me find it.”
He smiled and took my hand. “Come, sit down. I have a story to
share.” he said, leading me to the mat. We sat and he took a moment
to start.
“Years ago when Moguls ruled India, there was a great king
named Akbar who loved music. To feed his love for music, Akbar
hired a singer, who was the greatest in the land. It was said that this
singer was so great that when he sang, stone walls would melt. The
singer’s name was Tansen.
“One day, King Akbar asked Tansen to take him to his master.
Akbar wanted to meet the man who had taught so great a singer.
Tansen told Akbar that his master lived in the jungle and that they
would have to set out on a journey to visit him. Akbar agreed, eager
to meet the man.
“When they came near to the place in the jungle where Tansen’s
master lived, Akbar heard his singing echo through the jungle.
Immediately, Akbar found tears pouring down his face. He was so
stunned by the beauty of the man’s singing that in seconds he had
fallen into a deep trance. Later, when the singing stopped, Akbar
awoke, refreshed.
“The great king was amazed. While Tansen was able to bring
him such joy during a performance, his master, who was merely
singing while he worked had brought him an even greater joy. He
asked Tansen what the difference was between him and his master.
“Tansen explained to Akbar that the difference lay not in their
ability to sing, but in the origin of the song. Tansen sang to please
others, but his master sang to please no one but the song itself. So,
his master’s song was pure, an honest expression of spirit and utterly
free of motive. Tansen sang because it was his job. His master sang
for no purpose other than to give.”
The amazing thing was, that as Haridas related this story, I
understood perfectly what he meant, because with my eyes closed I
had noticed an amazing phenomena. Haridas’ voice had such a
resonance to it, one that I’d never experienced before from anyone
else. It was as if the words he spoke were coming from my own head.
BIG AMERICAN BREAKFAST
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