“There is only one reality, but there are many ways that reality can be interpreted.” B.K.S. Iyengar, Light on Life
The story of the ascetic Sangamajii is little told in modern Buddhism. Thank you to Emmanuel Carrère, in “Yoga”, for revealing it to us because it is quite appropriate.
“The unsympathetic story of the ascetic Sangamaji
The ascetic Sangamaji is meditating under a tree. Before retiring from the world, he lived with a woman and had a child with her. He abandoned both of them for higher achievements, or what he considers to be such. The woman having fallen into misery, she comes to him for help. She shows him their tiny, skinny, starving boy, she begs him. He does not answer, does not blink, remains seated cross-legged. She insists. He does not come out of his meditation. She finally puts the child on the ground and says, “He is your son, monk. Take care of him”, and pretends to withdraw. Hiding behind a tree, she observes the ascetic and the child. The child cries, cries, heartbreakingly. The child does not look at him, does not move. He continues to meditate. Disgusted, the woman takes back the child and leaves without asking for her rest….
And to finish The terrible story of the ascetic Sangamajii, the Buddha congratulates him, “Sangamaji had no pleasure when this woman came, no pain when she left. He is free from all bonds. I call this man a brahmana”…
