From the flat plains to the high mountains, Āloka relied on his feet and strength to climb up near the top of Cockfoot Mountain, where Venerable Mahākassapa entered deep absorption meditation. However, Āloka was afraid to enter the dark crevice that led to the top. Instead, he lay down in front of the entrance, watching the monks one by one enter, feeling helpless. Moved by Āloka’s plight and determination to walk alongside the monks to the top, I carried him across the crevices of the mountain to pay respects to the stupa of Venerable Mahākassapa. Āloka’s joy upon reaching the top erased all my aches and pains.
Passing through new and strange places, Āloka got lost many times in the sea of people, where it was so crowded that even the warm clothes on his body were stolen, leaving only the cloth collar around his neck. He spent long, cold nights in the midst of hungry wild dogs and may have suffered many attacks and injuries. When he saw me again, he happily ran to bite my hand and wept bitterly. To make matters worse, he was attacked by German Shepherds and tried to flee while sustaining leg injuries. I followed him to a corner of a crowded intersection, but so many eyes were focused on us. A kind lady even offered me money while I was sitting there hugging and protecting him. I smiled and thought to myself that both teacher and student were no different from real beggars.
After getting lost a few times, Āloka perhaps learned from experience and always stood by us. He had been with the Sangha through the freezing winter, drenched rainy nights, and frigid foggy days. Winter passed, and summer came; under the sweltering sun, the trees dried up, grass burned, fields cracked, and land parched and thirsty for drops of water. The roads were like red fire burning the skin. Yet, with those four little bare feet, Āloka trampled them all, whether through thorny forests, sharp and rough rocks, broken pieces of earthenware, or shards of glass. Yet, with those four little bare feet, he patiently walked through them all.
Even after all these, Āloka endured a horrific accident when he was hit by a car on a foggy morning. After that, he was chased and bitten by multiple groups of wild dogs with fierce fangs, causing injuries all over his body and forcing him to hobble on three legs until the end of his journey. For an extended period, he walked fifty kilometers every day, was constantly tired, had insufficient food and water, bathed in dirty water, waded through mud, and endured bites from mosquitoes, fleas, and other insects. His condition became critical as he fell seriously ill and seemingly reached his end. His body was sometimes ice-cold and emitted a foul smell, and his breath was weak as if it were his last. His nasal discharge was thick and sometimes yellow or green, dripping non-stop, forcing him to breathe through his mouth. Āloka could not eat or drink, and vomiting day and night made him even more sluggish, making it impossible for him to stand up.
I carried Āloka in my arms as I went from house to house, and stall to stall, searching for a doctor to treat him along the long street. Finally, we found a lifesaving doctor behind the right door. Āloka received four injections, causing him even more pain. When the doctor administered the first injection in his buttock, Āloka tried to scream, but his screams were faint. Startled, the doctor pulled out the needle and quickly injected the rest of the medicine, leaving Āloka exhausted and panting in my arms. I couldn’t help but felt pity as I held and petted him. However, the painful injections only helped Āloka lower his fever for one night, and the subsequent oral medication did not even help much.
We took Āloka to the second and third doctors, and although more injections were given, his condition remained unchanged. With the fourth doctor, he was injected so much that even the needle bent, causing Āloka to scream miserably, but it did not cure his sickness. Nevertheless, Āloka’s condition improved slightly, and he could eat and drink a little. Unfortunately, he threw up in our tent that night. Despite his illness, on a foggy morning, Āloka refused to continue riding and jumped out of the moving vehicle, chasing the group step by step until he met me.
As each day passed, Āloka’s condition worsened, but fortunately, we were only 60 kilometers away from a big city. We took him to a big hospital for X-rays and diagnosis. This time, the doctor could identify the disease, administer medicine, and prescribe the proper treatment for severe pneumonia. The doctor said it was lucky that Āloka received treatment in time, and I felt a sense of relief.
These days, seeing Āloka’s health improve day by day, we were all filled with happiness and joy. It was truly remarkable how this small being’s strong will enabled him to overcome the brink of death, leaving us all in admiration and awe.
During our journey, there were times when Āloka would stop and wait for me, even biting my cane to urge me forward. Together, we climbed to the top of the mountain to reach Sattapanni Cave, also known as the Mahakassapa Cave, where the first Buddhist Council was held. We then went to the top of Gijjhakūṭa Mountain (Vulture’s Peak) to pay respects to the Perfumed Chamber of the Buddha’s residence. Both teacher and student shared a small nest at night, regardless of whether the weather was hot or cold.
(to be continued)
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Source: Dhammacetiya
