‘Honoured sir, it was necessary to give asylum to one who came to seek shelter. The Monastic Order cannot refuse its sanctuary to such a person. Such is the order of our Faith.’

Lines of anxiety deepened on the forehead of the Principal. ‘But, for the safety of the Monastic Order and of religion, we have a different duty at this time,’ he said. ‘A fast, normally desirable, may be disregarded when a person is ill.’

‘Do I have your permission, honoured sir, to say something?’ Cheebuk said, joining his hands and looking at the Principal of the order.

The Principal nodded assent, at which Cheebuk said, ‘Honoured sir, just as water serves a special purpose when a person is thirsty, the observance of religious practices too, assumes a special significance in times of crisis.’

‘But the safety of the Monastic Order is more important than the safety of an individual,’ the Principal said, looking into Cheebuk’s eyes.

‘Honoured sir, Bodhisattva offered the flesh of his own body to save a poor homeless bird that had come seeking shelter. The proper use of his body, his wisdom, his religion lay in offering his own body to the shelterless bird. Honoured sir, my mind tells me that the safety of religion, the safety of the monastic order, has its importance insofar as it gives shelter to the shelterless. In this, even though the institutional structure of the Monastic Order may suffer, it will enhance religion. But refusal of shelter to a fugitive, even though it may save the institutional structure, will do grave harm to religion.’

After remaining silent for a long time, Dharma Rakshit said, ‘It is laid down in our code of conduct that if there is difference of opinion among the monks, then the course of action is decided by an assembly of the monastic community. But on account of the prevailing conditions, it may be disastrous for the Monastic Order if this secret is revealed to the assembly. Out of regard for your religious zeal, however, I have said all that I had to say, in respect of my views and my recommendations.’

Cheebuk sat for a while with his head bowed, and then, offering his humble salutations to the Principal of the monastic order, took leave and returned to the monastery.

Monk Cheebuk’s face, ever beaming with compassion and fellow feeling, for once became clouded. His mind, always free from uncertainty, was now torn by conflict. He could not flout the instructions of the Principal, and thereby violate the code of Buddhist discipline, but neither could he act against the moral instructions of the Bodhisattva. To steady his mind so as to be able to decide on his course of action, he sat meditating till late in the night in front of the image of the Buddha.

By putting himself in the place of the Buddha, and trying to see how the Buddha would have acted under similar circumstances, he was able to resolve his mental conflict. Gazing with rapt attention at the lustrous face of the Buddha, illuminated by the light of the lamps, the monk’s face once again became free from anxiety, and lit up with joy. Before the image of the Buddha, he touched the floor with his head in a token of reverence.