Vedantic Tales : The Discipleship
        of Ajay : The Osprey

I will become a monk, he said with decision.

So? Well, I can't advise you about that. But I know someone who can an old eagle owl, the Abbot of the Himalayan Monastery. He lives far in the north. I'll take you to him, if you like.

Oh, please!

The next morning they set out, flying together for a long part of the journey. After a time, as the sun was setting, Sanyal pointed out the eagle owl's aerie. Go on alone, he said. Tell him I sent you.

Ajay reached the snowy crag where the Abbot stood, a huge, awesome Presence, feathered in gerua and brown and beautiful in grandeur. Standing before him, Ajay felt tiny, foolish; yet the Abbot's round eyes, both of which looked straight at him, were not merciless like the eyes of a raptor. They sought no prey; they needed nothing to feast on; with profound, unquestioning calm they contemplated the young osprey who had suddenly appeared. Ajay bowed his head and touched a black talon with his beak.

Sanyal sent me, sir, he said.

The Abbot nodded. Your dinner is waiting for you over there. Go and eat, wash, and then come back.

Ajay did as he was told. After eating a delicious, freshly caught mountain trout, which had been nicely laid out for him on an overhanging rock, and then dipping his feet and beak in an icy stream to cleanse them, he returned to the aerie and again bowed and touched a talon.

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