A SPECK OF DUST AND A YOGI

The wind whistles and blows towards a mountaintop where there is a yogi sitting in deep meditation. Silently placing the speck of dust next to the yogi and having no intention to stir up the peaceful environment, the wind pays homage and offers its own freshness to the ascetic before taking off. In a moment, silence pervades all four directions. In the stillness, all beings seem to enjoy themselves in an immense calmness dissipating from the yogi’s purified vibrations. Blending in, the speck of dust concentrates and tries to subdue its mind-agitating thoughts.

The sun rises above the mountaintop. The yogi slowly opens his keen eyes that shine like the stars. He stretches out his limbs and massages them with his hands to stimulate the blood circulation throughout his body. The speck of dust is still patiently waiting. All of a sudden, the yogi glances towards the speck of dust and raises his soft and warm voice:

–My dear speck of dust, have you been waiting for me for a long time?

–Dear Venerable, I came here since the dawn. At that time, I saw that you were in deep meditation, and, hence, I did not want to disturb you.

–Your mind is perturbed like an interlacing roll of silk thread. I guess you must have many things that bother you. What could I do to help you?

–Dear Venerable, I have been drowning myself in ignorance. The downfall of my mind has made me forget my positive characteristics and prevented me from using them. Fortunately, I was guided by the ray of sunlight to meet you. Would you please compassionately show me a path and guide me with your enlightened advices.

–My dear speck of dust. When I look at you, I don’t see you as just a mere speck of dust but a large stretch of groves having trees laden with fruits. I see in you a yellow rice paddy that is about to be reaped. I also see a glowing smile on a face of a farmer who is experiencing a good harvest. I see silt swiftly flowing with a current of a tamed river to deposit its rich nourishment into the shorelines. How could I see those? It is all explainable when you fully understand the Principle of Mutual Mergence, which says that within an entity there exists another entity, and, within the other entity, there exists the former entity. Try to contemplate on this thought, and then you will see that you are part of the earth that makes up the five continents and also the particles that make up the seabed. From there, you would see your vast potentials that are comparable to the hidden, unlimited-resource mines or even the yet-discovered precious materials. Another principle is the Principle of Mutual Being which means this is that and that is this. Dust is dirt, and dirt is dust. Just like wave is water, and water is wave. You have come into being because of other creatures’ existences. And likewise, the other creatures have come into being because of your existence.

The speck of dust contemplates on the earth element. It senses a surging life force keeps growing and growing inside itself … It sees that it embraces and covers all creatures. It sees that it is also the earth that provides shelters and food for countless living creatures. The speck of dust saw its own potentials at last.

As if having read the speck of dust’s mind, the yogi nods his head and reminds it to return back to reality.

–Keep accumulating good merits with all the abilities that you have. A wholesome cause, regardless how small it is, but with a selfless, devoted mind having no expectation in return, still could yield an unimaginable result. Let’s observe a seed planted in a ground. That seed is a cause of the closest essential condition. With the help of other elements, the stimulating conditions, like sun, rain, fertilizer, and care, the seed would sprout and become a shoot. When the helping elements are not interrupted, known as the uninterrupted stimulating conditions, the shoot would mature and yield fruits. Everything starting from the seed, the shoot, and other near-or-far conditions that make the tree’s existence are all objects of perception, or the condition that is conducive, and they are inseparable from the perception.

Pointing toward a forest at the foothill, the yogi says;

–Look at the pear tree laden with fruits down there. The tree originated from a small seed. Also, try to imagine the consequences resulted from an unwholesome deed. Hence, you should be cautious before committing any action that is caused by the body, speech, and mind. I wish you success on your spiritual quest.

Holding an alms bowl in his hand, the yogi mindfully recites a mantra and slowly walks his steps down the hill for his alms food for the day. Meanwhile, the speck of dust pays homage to the yogi and waits until his shadow getting smaller and gradually disappearing from the distance. Within that moment, the speck of dust feels an indescribable happiness in its heart for having realized the significant meaning of life. Subsequently, the cool breeze returns and carries the speck of dust on its quest for dharma study and practice.

One day late in the winter, the speck of dust arrives at a place where flowers and trees are transforming themselves in full force for the sunlight and the powerful growth of the coming spring. With its mind busily preoccupied in admiring the beauty of the surrounding nature, the speck of dust suddenly realizes it has approached an ants’ nest that is nearby the spring. Looking closely at the nest, it curiously observes the busy activities of the ants inside. The speck of dust shows its admiration when seeing their united, disciplined, hardworking and focused work attitudes. Moreover, it learns from the ants their selflessness: so devoted to public service and asking nothing in return.

Snow melts. The snow packs break apart and drift afloat with the flow of the stream. Suddenly, they hit a big boulder and become stuck. Meanwhile, going with the stream are drift woods from the source. Soon, they too are all piled up. Because of the stoppage, the stream overflows its water to the shores and slowly approaches the ants’ nest in a threatening manner. The speck of dust rushes to the edge of the overflowing water, soaks it up, and rolls back to the dry land to collect more dirt. In a moment, the speck of dust transforms itself into a big round dirt ball. The dirt ball hurriedly uses its body as a shield to block the entrance to the ants’ nest. Soon, the water current creeps up to the ants’ nest. Hitting and redirected by the dirt ball, the current turns away and shifts its direction. Carrying with the current is the dissolved dirt ball. However, the lives of the ants are saved. The speck of dust gasps for its last breath. Since then, the speck of dust returns to the ultimate of the universe. The speck of dust exists everywhere. Dust is dirt; dirt is dust.

Duc Q. Nguyen
(Winter 2001)