My skits and stories: Phantom City – The Buddhist Parable

Phantom City – The Buddhist Parable

 Author: Manish “Pakhi”

 

Introduction: The Parable of the Phantom city appears in chapter 7 of Lotus Sutra. The story of the imaginary or phantom city describes a caravan of travelers who spent several days traveling through the desert in search of a magnificent treasure. The caravan had a knowledgeable leader who noticed the participants were worn out and losing interest in their mission. Many travelers lacked the stamina to continue after a protracted and perilous voyage, and many yearned to turn around and return home.

 The astute leader (Buddha) realized this and decided he needed to find a means to cheer them up. He informed them that a city was soon ahead, where they could find a place to rest and refresh themselves, in order to give them hope and inspiration to go on. This provided the tired group with some relief. The Buddha then explains that Buddhahood is the true value and the ultimate aim, while the phantom city symbolizes the provisional teachings which the Buddha preached only to lead the way to the true enlightenment.

 

(Scene opens, narrator is standing / seating on right facing the audience)

 

NARRATOR

Narrator 1: 

Good Morning dear friends... 

We bring to you today... 

a Buddhist fable very old... 

But the moral of this story... 

is just as good as gold!

AMBIENCE

Background Slide:  desert, climb, sun, sweltering,

Music: sad, weary

NARRATOR

Narrator 2:  This is the Parable of the Phantom city... where a leader is guiding a caravan of five travelers to the wonderful land of treasures. But the path to the mighty land is not easy... The travelers and the leader are undertaking a long and hazardous journey through a scorching desert... The heat, sweat, grime and dust... make the traveler’s feet turn to rust. Disheartened and weary, they tell the leader that they can’t go much ahead really!

ENACTMENT

Traveller1:

Oh, I can't walk any more. I need some rest badly,

There is no shade, no water and No respite sadly.

Traveler 2:

I am feeling so sick, I am old and weak,

I shall never find the treasure, I shall never reach the peak

Traveller3:

All this long, it was all in vain,

Let's go back, let's go back, I am going insane.

NARRATOR

Narrator 3: 

Oh! 

The fundamental darkness inherent in all... 

Is surely taking its toll

The determination of the travelers’ falls … 

And enthusiasm stalls. 

With their patience lost... 

The travelers also find perseverance disappearing fast.

AMBIENCE

Background recital:

Who awaits u there, traveler,

what will you find,

Look back and think just once,

All that you have left behind

ENACTMENT

Traveler 4:

There is no treasure land, that we can ever reach,

We cannot endure anymore what you teach,

Traveler 5:

Oh Great Leader, I beg of you,

Please tell us what do we do?

NARRATOR

Narrator 4: Now while the travelers are the voice hearers, cause awakened Bodhisattvas who seem to have become complacent; their leader is the Buddha himself... The Buddha’s mission is to make them persevere and guide them to the land of treasures or what you may also call the land of unsurpassed enlightenment or Buddhahood... So, in the middle of the vast desert... the guide using his transcendental powers, conjures up a mythical land so pretty... that the five travelers at once forget all their self-pity...

AMBIENCE

Background Slide: Palace,

Music: happy, celebratory

Kids with pom pom

Background Recital:

Welcome to the city of dreams,

You are worthy to be here,

Come, come and please come over,

This place is for you;  my dear,

NARRATOR

Narrator 5: In the parable, the mythical phantom city in the middle of the scorching desert is actually symbolic of the illusions of thought and earthly desires that one faces in day to day life... The guide then urges the travelers to enter the city... and enjoy peace, tranquility and happiness in plenty...

ENACTMENT

Leader: 

“You are all so learned, You are all so wise,

Giving away your doubts, you must rise.

The road is long, the journey is tough,

It is'nt easy, the patch is rough,

The treasure land is not far, it is near in sight,

Can't you hear the bells and see that palace of great height?”

AMBIENCE

REPEAT: Background Slide: Palace

Music: happy, celebratory

Kids with pom pom

Background Recital:

Welcome to the city of dreams,

You are worthy to be here,

Come, come and pls come over,

This place is for you my dear,

ENACTMENT

Leader: 

This is the phantom city,

city of dreams,

You have reached where you wanted to,

by all means,

Take it easy, now and here,

in this great land,

Fun, food and happiness 

all so close at hand.

The city of dreams will fill your senses and revive your soul,

Isn’t this what you wanted, wasn’t this your goal?

Expedient as it is to celebrate now,

Time to appreciate, encourage and take a new vow

NARRATOR

Narrator 6: 

The travelers are ecstatic... 

The phantom city is indeed enigmatic

They are happy and gay... 

Weren’t earthly pleasures the real way?

AMBIENCE

Background Slide: Buffet, food, beverages

Gaiety, fun and dancing all around

ENACTMENT

Traveler 1: Behold, I have never seen such delicacies before,

Traveler 2: The more I eat, I yearn for more...

traveler 3: The cool breeze blows away all my pain, I m feeling sleepy ready to snore...

Traveler4: Let's go to that side, someone singing out there,

let's hear this wonderful symphony, that fills the air...

AMBIENCE

Background Slide: Music background

CULTURAL PRESENTATION

SONG

ENACTMENT

Traveler 5: 

Oh, 

I can't tell this, This song was so great,

what more is there to see, I can't wait...

NARRATOR

Narrator 7: 

Having rested their exhausted bodies and recouped some of their shine..

The travelers or Bodhisattvas are now on cloud nine. 

They feel in the pink of health... 

As though their just received enormous wealth!

ENACTMENT

Traveler 1: Delighted I feel,

Traveler 2: Overjoyed I feel,

Traveler 3: Rejuvenated I feel,

Traveler 4: I am on cloud nine

Traveler 5: Phantom city is MINE!!!

CULTURAL PRESENTATION

FAN DANCE

Background Slide: Fan dance slide

NARRATOR

Narrator 8: 

But the Phantom city was but an illusion... 

And when it disappears, there is bound to be delusion

The travelers think that the pleasures of the Phantom city are enlightenment...but the land of treasures that awaits is one of unsurpassed fulfilment... The Leader being a Buddha has a mission to lead the travelers to true, unending happiness. And when he finds the traveler’s batteries recharged... 

The leader waves his magic wand.... 

And begins turning the phantom city back to sand.

ENACTMENT

Traveler 1: Behold, this palace is dissolving into thin air,

Traveler 2: The food, the music and the brightly-dressed kids...nothing is there,

Traveler 3: Where is everything vanishing, where??

Traveler 4: Leader, please tell us what is real, what is true,

                   Only your profound wisdom can give us some clue.

 Leader: 

I conjured up this palace to give you rest,

But the real treasure is what lies next,

The fundamental darkness manifests as phantom city,

Illusions sway your minds, what a pity,

The true enlightenment and Phantom city,

Are but one, 

Boundless joy, compassion and courage,

Is Buddha’s wisdom

So forge ahead with a deep, mission and Vow,

Phantom city and treasure land are one,

Here and now.

AMBIENCE

When the journey resumes ... symphony plays with increasing crescendo and the travelers resume the journey with enthusiasm and indestructible joy.

ENACTMENT

The five travelers hold the teachers’ hands and walk forth with courage and expectation in their eyes...

NARRATOR 

Narrator 9:

And so the Parable of the phantom city comes to an end... 

but not before having a deep message sent...  

Travelers may feel that phantom cities or earthly desires are the "means" to reach the treasure land or Buddhahood which is the "End"...

But the Dai Shonin believed differently... and he said fervently...

“The Phantom city and treasure land are in fact inseparable...

The nine worlds are all phantom cities themselves... and the treasure land or Buddhahood is truly the higher self.

Phantom city and treasure land in fact are identical, the Dai Shonin said to lure... and the word “identical” here means "Nam-Myo-ho-Renge-Kyo"...

Keep conquering the phantom cities, we say... and soon you’ll find yourselves in treasure land, the Buddha way.

Every target achieved is life in phantom city... and every moment in that phantom city revelry... is a slice out of the treasure land corollary.

Earthly desires indeed are enlightenment... but only when with wisdom and compassion lent...

Let’s work hard in bringing forth our innate Buddha nature ... that’s when Phantom city and Treasure land will become one in stature.

To attain enlightenment is the mission... and the Parable of the phantom city teaches a deep & valuable lesson.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

My poem - Waqt

Om Namah Shivay

Om Namah Shivay

Editorial Note 2023

Warm wishes for each other for a very happy new year float around. There is celebration and joy and a sense of looking forward to a new year so vibrant and illuminating that every soul on this planet earth is healed in its light. For a moment , for a day we become all so very different...so very benevolent...so very well wishing... so very kind ...so very joyful!! May this Bon-homie last forever.. May this bliss never end.. May we all rise above our lower selves and lend a helping hand to the needy. May all of us " Humans" uphold " Humanity" and live in a "Humanitarian" way. 

Once again, my deep gratitude to all my readers from across the world. The stats shows that the no. of readers from United States are becoming equal to the no. of readers from India. This is followed by Russia, Germany, United Kingdom, France, Sweden, Ukraine, Portugal and United Kingdom as the top ten countries in readership. I thank all my readers for liking the blog and sharing your feedback and comments. 

Today I would like to talk about Aging and the Attitudes about aging. My mentor Dr. Daisaku Ikeda has stated and I quote

" None of us is immune to old age. Shakyamuni once spoke of the need to conquer three forms of pride...pride of youth, of health and of life. Drunk with the pride of youth, people have an aversion to those bent with age. Drunk with the pride of health, people have an aversion to those suffering from illness or disease. And drunk with the pride of life, people have an aversion to the dead. But by looking away from the realities of aging, sickness and death, we deny our own future; we reject or inevitable fate.......

The rich life experiences of older people constitute a precious and irreplaceable resource. It behooves us, to pay attention to the way we view aging and to create a society in which the elderly can experience fulfillment and live out their lives as they wish. ....  

It is terrible when the aged, who most likely grew old during long years of service to their families and to society, feel cut off from that very society. Often, they respond by closing their minds and isolating themselves. The elderly, aware that they cannot do many things as they once did, understandably find the problems and limitations difficult to accept. " 

Unquote. 

Today we find people increasingly becoming intolerant to aging and elderly. Intolerance to elderly manifest in different ways such as Admonishing, Ignoring and  Abandoning. I see young people  insulting elderly with a smug and complacent air as if they are immune to age. They seem to disparage the wisdom of the Elders and mock at it. I find many well to do children are not able to find time to visit their elders, talk with them, nurse their needs and help them to ease their anxieties into a sense of fulfillment. Even when they talk, the arrogance in their tone and pitch speaks of their uncivilized mind first. Why cant' they be a little humble, polite, well mannered and cultivated? Why..Are their hearts so full of grudges for their own woes of life that they want to blame their elders and make them pay for it with their disrespect...how pitiful.. 

If it is not about elderly, in general I find there is growing intolerance towards aging people. Elders are being challenged by their younger ones not today but from ages...The difference is that earlier this challenging was a part of growing up to assert one's individuality and evolving identity with a shade of youthful innocent protest...now the innocence from the protest is gone and replaced with a haughtiness....I find the younger ones addressing their elders in the most disrespectful manners, talking over them, taking precedence and main  stage rather than humbly standing aside....I remember a gathering in the recent past when in a condolence meeting for a deceased relative, the younger brother opened the address instead of respectfully bowing down  the  occasion to the elder brother who was also present. The solemnity of the occasion, the dignity and the grace were all taken away by this very act of insolence. On another occasion I saw a young person admonishing the father on who knows the medical science better.. " You or Me"!!  and the father felt  devastated  remembering all those efforts he did to make that child a doctor. I also find that in social chat group many youngsters address their elders not by their salutation or relation but a sign of @ appended to their names. This simply reduces the person to a Variable Name as if in a programming code. Such way of addressing each other has no feelings in hearts but only big hollow voids.... How Vacuous.. !! 

Such intolerance is intolerable and unpardonable.. 

 

Why is so that the some younger ones do not want to take their elder's advice, guidance and directions. The answer is simple and a bitter truth.. They have grown up with years but their experience with life and its vagaries is very limited... The pretend to be grown up.. mimic to show their wisdom.. They are not grounded and live in fantasy of their own minds.. They lack understanding of real life, real pain, real sorrow, real joy, real loss and real gain...In other words, their limited knowledge and exposure make them believe into know-it-all disposition in a very unreal way.. They are not Connected...

I wish the coming year brings lots of wisdom and understanding of the role of elderly in our lives, in our families, in our workplaces and  in our societies.  Wish to see the youthful spirit combining with the elderly wisdom to create the most beautiful world  around us. A world of compassion, Concern and most genuine care...

Wish you a very Happy new year once again!!! 

Stay healthy, safe and let your spirit soar the highest to a life condition of unparalleled compassion!!

                                                                                                                                From- 

                                                                                                                                Manish 'Pakhi'  

My Poem - Healer

My poem - Bekhabar

Parents give their children 'wings' to fly and 'roots' to come back; This poem is for the ones who take the wings to fly but do not come back...

My poem - टूटे तारे

टूटे तारे

Editorial Note - Happy New Year

With great hope and optimism, we usher into another new year!!  

The celebrations may have shadow of precautionary refrain in view of the pandemic scare, yet the human spirit stays undefeated. There are new year wishes charging and unleashing an undeterred life force across the battered face of Earth that needs healing.  

Healing ... Healing at its own pace for each individual... Healing of the scars of losing loved ones, losing one's livelihood, losing one's dreams. We need  to be lenient to provide space or time for us to heal..  The phobic and morbid narrative need to be replaced with compassionate and  caring reassurance. The unprecedented evil afflicting humanity need to be countered by  a resurgence of goodness. 

Our children are still unprotected from the virulence and one can imagine the insecurities taking roots in young minds hearing the apocalyptic news all around.  Elderly are forced to bear the hardships of quarantined subsistence. I pray that the world finds a new order for itself which give first importance to  protect the humanity than anything else.

I thank all the readers from United States, India, Russia, Germany, France, Ukraine, Portugal, United Kingdom, Latvia, Sweden, Poland, Israel, Canada, Indonesia, Australia, Romania, Singapore, China and other countries who have been sharing their valuable comments and suggestions and impressions about the posts in this blog. 

Many readers shared their experiences during these difficult times of the 2021. It gave me a deep sense of satisfaction and hope hearing about complete strangers reached out to help each other without thinking of their own welfare. On the other hand it was equally shattering to see elderly being abandoned by their well to do children  in the name of  social distancing.  On one hand it was very heartwarming to see people connecting over phones and video calls to feel every moment of togetherness, on the other hand it was disappointing to find people not being able perform the last rites  for the loved ones lost.  There are many anecdotes demonstrating the pinnacle  of human camaraderie and nadir of blood relations. Adversity brings the best and worst of human behavior both. 

Social networks played an important role in connecting people, bringing help and medical aid during the year. The power of these platforms was seen at their constructive best. Technology has huge benefits if put to positive use. However, there were still people who kept waiting for a single call from the ones they considered their family or close friends. It makes me wonder what could possibly keep people from staying in touch with their loved ones, relatives, acquaintances and friends even in such times when the uncertainty of tomorrow is staring into the eyes. Lets pray for the goodness of the heart be kindled by the memories of the good times and become stimulant enough to shatter all darkness taking possession of ignorant souls. 

Please keep sharing your views and blessings. Please keep sharing the messages of good conduct and humanitarian values. That is what keep the world going amidst all absurdities. 

Wish you a very Happy new year once again!!! 

Stay healthy, safe and let your spirit soar the highest to a life condition of unparalleled compassion!!

                                                                                                                                From- 

                                                                                                                                Manish 'Pakhi'  

My Poem - Divinity

Divinity

 

My poem - Kahan ho Tathagat

कहाँ हो तथागत

My poem - Waiting my time

Waiting my time

Editorial Note 2021

The sheer power of the good wishes charges the atmosphere. We wish others who warmly reciprocates and a groundswell of benevolence   re-ignites hope. I am sure on such a day the planet Earth  must be looking different from afar in space. Hope that should never die...Hope for a better tomorrow for you and me and for us.... 2020 had been an year of unprecedented events....in a way reflective of where our collective consciousness is taking us...I am still shaken to see the barren streets, bazaars, schools, offices and the morbid stench in the air of a lurking fear of death..a helpless humanity coming to knees to a living dead's lethal pervasiveness with nothing to guard us ..no medicines , no vaccines...Only faith...

I am thankful to the readers from United States, India, Russia, Germany, France, Ukraine, Portugal, United Kingdom, Latvia, Sweden, Poland, Israel, Canada, Indonesia, Australia, Romania, Singapore, China and other countries to take interest in my blog. Thanks for your amazing feedback and continued guidance. I thank all my readers for their valuable feedback and encouraging  support from the bottom of my heart. 

Today the onset of the new year reminds of another malady that is as pervasive and devastating as a pandemic...it kills stealthily..it is  degenerative and it kills the potential of the Victim.. 

It is called " Bullying"  and I urge let this be the year  of " NO BULLYING" as a new year resolution.. 

Bullying thrives on the weaknesses or vulnerabilities of people they cannot change... it locks them down, make them retreat in fear and succumb to an undignified subservience..Bullying happens to all the people of all age groups from kids to elderly, all the places from school, to work places to family and all the time... 

Many people are not aware of the bullying happening with them out of their good and sincere nature..If you find following happening with you you may as well check if you are being bullied....

1/  You are not greeted, included and given due space in a gathering willfully by some people .

2/  Your work areas or personal spaces  are encroached with defiance of your dignity by some people.

3/   You are made to feel small of your achievements and compared unequally and unfairly with undeserving others.

4/   Your sincere efforts and sensitivity is exploited to keep you bereft of the recognition or reward or positive strokes deliberately.

5/   You are mocked and  ridiculed for your appearance, background, status, disabilities and even abilities ..things that you cannot change immediately.

6/ Your dignity is violated with harsh, abusive or abrasive words or actions.

The person being bullied are generally having stronger faith in humanity which makes them unable to retaliate.. their kindness is misunderstood as their weakness...They are powerless due to their innate  goodness and feel they can absorb the fundamental darkness of others...Many of them fall into a habit self abnegation only to break down completely some day....

About those who bully there are some who do it as a sport to derive pleasure and satisfy their ego... there are some who do it out of uncontrollable obsessive preoccupations for  some people like a sibling , possessions like a property or practices like a ritual......  

Bullying is another living dead that kills ...it too does irreparable damage to a person's immune system, It too does not have a vaccine,  It too is contagious ...It too is a pandemic ....one which is much more embedded, virulent and resistant ...one which mutate into various strains making it difficult to identify by the victim...

Lets resolve not to bully anyone and see if there are any traces of bullying in the behavior we give and receive both...If this one malady can be wiped from the face of Earth, it will restore dignity of  many lives...it will foster bonds god tied us together with, It will make the 2021 wishes come true for many...

Most importantly...It will cost nothing!!

Wish you a very Happy new year once again!!! 

Stay healthy, safe and let your spirit soar the highest to a life condition of unparalleled compassion!!

                                                                                                                                From- 

                                                                                                                                Manish 'Pakhi'  

My Poem - abhyas

अभ्यास

(c) मनीष 'पाखी'

Soulful stories- Karmic ties

Karmic ties

A very touching short movie about the eternal ties of father and daughter across the life times. Relationships we have in this life time are karmic bonds!!

My poems: Khalish

My poems : Eager

My poem: My mountainside

म्हारो पहाड़

My poems: Acceptance

Acceptance

My Poems : Judaav

जुड़ाव

My poems: man vasant

मन बसंत