Pilgrimages have always been an intrinsic part of Indian life. Since time immemorial, people have gotten together in a group and gone on pilgrimages. Whatever be the reason, pilgrimages were part of one’s life.
A Guru used to take people on a pilgrimage every year. He would announce a pilgrimage, some rich people would come together to sponsor the whole pilgrimage and others would join in with whatever they could offer. Thus they would organise themselves and the pilgrimage would start under the Guru’s guidance.
The Guru had organised a pilgrimage for the people from a particular town. Everything was organised and the pilgrimage was to start from the next day. That evening a person came and met the Guru and asked to join the pilgrimage. The Guru was informed that the person was a thief even though he had never been caught. The Guru knew that without proof it would be wrong to accuse someone. However the others did not want that particular person who was said to be a thief.
The Guru called the person in private and told him the issue. The person said, if I have not been proven guilty how can I be a thief. Yet if it troubles others, I give you my word, I will not steal at all. If I do anything, you are free to punish me as you want. The Guru could sense his sincerity and decided to take him along. This angered the others but they could not go against the Guru’s decision.
The next day the pilgrimage started with all the carts moving out of town. They travelled the day, stopping in the evening at the next town. That night everyone retired. In the morning, when people woke up they found their belongings missing. They rushed to the Guru to complain about the thief. The person was called and asked. He said search me, I have not taken anything. Look in your belongings properly. The so called thief’s belongings were searched, nothing was found. Meanwhile one person came forward saying he found somebody else’s belongings in his luggage. Very soon everyone found their belongings in somebody else’s luggage and at the end it was found nothing was missing. So nothing could be said to the so called thief.
The pilgrims moved on in the day to the next place. Evening they stopped at another town. Next morning the same pattern repeated. They went and complained to the Guru that you must get the thief out of the group. The Guru said, if there is no evidence, I cannot accuse or call anyone a thief. So the people decided that from that night on, they would keep a watch among themselves.
The third night stop, everyone retired with some of the men making a watch party to keep watch all night. The night went by uneventful. In the morning, the same issue. The belongings were all mixed up. They met the Guru angrily. The Guru asked, you’ll kept a watch, then how did this happen. They had no answer. They all knew the thief had something to do with it but they had no proof. They said we will get you the proof.
Next night at another town, they rested with a proper watch party. In the morning, the same result. But they had no proof or knowledge of how it was happening. The pilgrims continued their journey. Another night, another halt. Next morning same story. This happened for another night, then the people said, nothing is getting lost, so why should we bother about keeping a watch. They stopped the watch system. Next morning the belongings were again mixed up. Nobody bothered to complain, they just sorted it out themselves. That night, another halt. Next morning, mixed up belongings. No complaints at all. The pilgrims moved closer to their destination. That night, another halt. Next morning everyone woke, expecting to search for their belongings but to their surprise, everything was in place. No belongings had been touched that night.
They carried on with their journey. Reached Kashi that day. Settled down in one of the dharmshalas there. The Guru took them around to various temples and other holy places. The last day everyone was out doing their own thing. The Guru found himself alone with the so called thief in the dharmshala. He called him to his room.
He asked the person, why did you do what you did. The person replied I did not steal. The Guru said – I did not tell you stole. I just asked you – why did you do what you did.
The person replied – I have seen you coming to our town for many years. There has always been a calmness and peace around you. I always wanted to join you but never had the courage to ask. This time I summed up the courage and you accepted me even when the others opposed me. I was surprised and so I gave you my word. At the same time, I was angry at the others and wanted to teach them a lesson. So I found the middle way and did what was needed.
The Guru then asked – why did you stop?
The person replied – when they set up a watch party to catch me and yet could not catch me, it made me very happy. At that point, the question came to me – what next. Circumstances forced me to become a thief but I had become so good, that people could only accuse me, not prove it. I am at the peak but the what next question troubles me. The world keeps telling you to run but for how long can you run. Someday you will become exhausted and drop. Then what?
That question bothers me. In you, I do not see that question. You have realised something beyond this world. And that inexplicable something is what interests me, not the matters of the world. I joined your pilgrimage group out of curiosity but now I have found a missing piece to my questions. I do want to be with you and learn more about what is there beyond this daily worldly grind.
The Guru smiled and said – if you have come so far, the rest of the way will also be discovered. The Gods always provide guidance to the true seeker.
Be a seeker. Find your way in this world and the beyond.