The sound of gongs and other smaller bells come from far away. At the break of dawn, I venture out to explore this new vacation spot where I will be spending a few days away from the chaos of the city. I walk alone on an unpaved road covered with leaves because of last night’s cloudburst. The smell of jasmine in the early morning still lingers in the air and is very refreshing. The air is as pure and fresh as His first breath. The song of the stream flowing nearby is melodious and very calming to my ears. As I draw closer to the sound of the bells, I hear the monks singing ancient chants and hymns that are incomprehensible... yet... enchanting and hypnotic. I enter the holy temple, as old and ancient as time itself…. and the chants get louder and entrancing, putting me in a trance like state, as if coming from the belly of the universe. The chants have a vibe, an energy that emanates from the words that are spoken. The words resonate throughout the temple and I surrender myself to the harmonic songs. As the wind blows, all of the bells peal out in unison and create a beautiful symphony that puts me into an even deeper ecstasy. I walk around His house, looking at the ancient walls that depict many stories showing the end of evil, the coming of light, the triumph of truth. The high coffered domed ceiling is covered with dark soot that has accumulated over many hundreds of years from burning all that incense. The heady scent seems to have housed in the walls and the pillars. I can’t make out the dull paintings on some of the walls. They must have been painted with bright colors once, and now…. covered with soot…. they are almost unintelligible. The smell of incense so subtle yet so powerful gives me a feeling of weightlessness. I watch the monks as they make offerings and put bright red flowers at His feet and illuminate candles at the lavishly decorated altar as a symbol of wisdom and virtue. The time seems to have stopped. The idol stands tall and high in the middle of the grand hall, in the most elegant pose. His eyes are big, sleepy and peaceful. They look into my eyes and right into my soul….. sending shivers down to the bone… welcoming me to His house…. and his smile so mysterious as if he knows what I am thinking, as if he has known me forever, as if he knows all my secrets. The feeling is so overwhelming. I come outside and look at the lush surroundings, feeling the cool and refreshing breeze on my face…. and the tall trees surrounding the temple swaying in agreement, as if they know what I went through inside. These immortal trees that have been here since forever, since the temple itself was built or perhaps even much longer, have witnessed people change at this spot and leave a different person. As I stand there trying to unfold the mystery of the place, a single ray of sunlight emerges from the rain clouds and rests on me. I feel the warmth on my face, experiencing a change in my body, purifying every single cell and filling it up with the holiest, sweetest and purest water. I am soaked in eternal bliss. Never have I felt so much at peace. The gong strikes again…I break down in peace.
Was it a dream, or did i fantasize? i do not recall.....
