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Monks 'Dilemma
Monks' Dilemma
45
including the Pundit understand. Soon after, you are all requested to enjoy the simple lunch consisting of limited dishes."
She bowed and sat down. Vibhu asked them to garland each other and utter the vow. No gifts were accepted as it was already mentioned in the invitation.
Deepti was overwhelmed and told Deepak that they will also follow it.
The ceremony was over within three hours and guests started going to their respective places soon. Only the families of the bride and the bridegroom were left to exchange final departing niceties. Deepak also asked Vijay to excuse him for not accompanying him back to Udaipur as he had to be with his parents and sister who were with their group of monks, camping at Jaipur. Deepak and Deepti invited them for their honeymoon at Bangalore. Deepti said, "Deepak has now a big flat given by the company. He does not allow me to share and I may be allowed for the period you both are there. We promise, you will have nice time. I forgot to tell you that Deepak has also been gifted a new car by his company. We will show you all the tourist places. We shall also go to Ooty, the most beautiful and picturesque hill station in the south.
They departed with promise to meet soon at Bangalore.
visual and other facilities for organising conferences. In front of the building there was a very large area of over a hundred metres square covered with pleasant blue plastic sheets for accommodating a few thousand followers to listen to the daily discourses of the junior, senior and the chief or the head monk. There were big covered enclosures for feeding thousands of devotees thronging every day from far and nearby places, many staying from a week to a month or more. The scenario was like a camping place of a king of yore. Deepti was overawed by the grandeur and said, "With such comforts, facilities and kingly status anyone will be tempted to join monkhood. Monks are like rulers and the head monk is like a king. Thousands of devotees are coming, bowing, prostrating and begging for boons from monks more so from the head monk. There are big queues waiting for just an opportunity to touch his feet, prostrate before him and beg for boons. He commands and enjoys awe, honour and respect more than any most powerful emperor ever had."
Deepak, "You have seen only the outer facet, the enthusiasm and respect on the part of the devotees. You have not seen the austerities the monks follow. They live like a lotus in a pool of water untouched, unaffected and completely detached from material and sensual pleasures."
Deepti, "I shall like to see that also. I shall find out as to how real or fake are their austerities, renunciation and detachment."
The campus where monks were camping was almost like a small township with several small shops, rows of small make shift rooms made of tin sheets and also of bricks. There was a palatial building where monks were staying. The building had four big air conditioned halls of various sizes with audio
After waiting for over fifteen minutes they could go near the head monk and Deepak followed the customary form of obeisance, bowed and prostrated. Deepti, stood with folded hands bowed slightly. She observed clear a expression of
