The Musafir
Discontent
MANTINGan shot out as fast as a lightning strike. From the harbor he moved, and knew that he had arrived in the middle of the wilderness. How fast and how fast the Mantingan darted. Maybe it can be said to be excessive, but maybe not. Because, however, his attention was in turmoil.
Mantingan reduced his speed and entered into the lush trees in the forest. The young man stomped on a few tree branches before finally landing lightly on the short grassy ground.
The young man looked around. Truly a dense green forest, it seems to have never touched human footprints at all before. It was not impossible, Mantingan was the first human to set foot in this forest.
The completely desolate and desolate forest could not really swallow the uneasiness in Mantingan's mind. How not? For the first time, he felt so tempted by women. It was a bad disgrace for Mantingan, a sign that he was unable to resist lust.
After taking a deep breath before moving his feet in any direction. At least, the fresh air from the lush forest can again clear his mind.
The mantle kept going. Presumably he was stepping westward and getting closer to the heart of the forest.
On several occasions, Mantingan found squirrels bouncy on the branches of trees. Large and small birds that fly and alight, or alight and fly. Large lizards that monitor their prey from the top of trees. And even some long-horned deer that were drinking water in a pit.
What a sight that is ultimately able to shed all bad thoughts Mantingan. The young man smiled too. For so long he had not seen such a sight.
When he found a large flat stone, the Mantin immediately flashed and sat cross-legged on it. Closing his eyes, Mantingan started samadhi quickly.
I don't know what prompted him to do that. But presumably, it came from the call of his own conscience.
When Mantingan comes into direct contact with nature, he soon realizes that he is only a small part of the universe. Mantingan immediately remembered the teaching that Kiai Guru Kedai had given about ancient humans.
“I have found various carvings that form a painting when I was together in the cave,” said Kiai Guru Kedai one time. “The paintings depict human life when hunting, drying clothes, building houses, doing worship, or whatever it is.”
Then came when Mantingan asked Kiai Guru Kedai, “Who made it and when were the carvings formed?”
“The one who made the painting was an ancient man, perhaps millions or just thousands of years ago. Those who made the engraving have signified that humans are beginning to think about recording history.”
Mantingan again asked curiously, “In more detail, what did Kiai Guru see from the paintings?”
Patiently, his teacher replied, “I saw an immortal scene in the carvings. I saw the development of man in attaining intelligence; which was originally only one-two levels above the kunyuk, until it became the peak of perfection above all living things in this world.”
“Is that true, Kiai Guru?” Mantingan asked her so naturally at that time, “why did Kiai Guru call humans only a level smarter than apes?”
“Cause it is so. From the carvings I saw, I learned that they hunted only with sticks and stones. Build a hut just by hoarding shrubs on wooden poles. I've seen a raging kunyuk who slashed with a sword to master a man's mansion!”
“But if they are stupid as Kiai Guru mentioned earlier, why are humans now able to build intelligent civilizations like those that exist today, while apes are not able to?”
Kiai Guru Kedai unhesitatingly replied, as if he had been waiting for that question, “Sense of dissatisfaction caused that, My disciple. While other animals do not have such a taste, they only carry out what has indeed become their nature. Now I ask you, Mantingan, what would you do after successfully mastering a style?”
“Well, what you feel is a sense of dissatisfaction. But it is with that sense of dissatisfaction that you can continue to develop into intelligent beings. Ancient humans felt the same way that you and all of us do. Dissatisfaction.
“From which can only move creeping, man learns to crawl. Then from crawling, humans learn to walk bent over. Until finally from walking bent, humans learn to walk upright. Can it be achieved if man complacent with his ability to move creeping alone?”
“But, wasn't there not a single book they could use to learn to walk or build a house?”
“They learned from the universe. The universe always sets the best example. From earth, water, wind, living things, to stars. The universe is the mother of all the books of knowledge and scriptures. The universe is the greatest veil that does not stop teaching humans and the creatures within. Gusti spoke to the human intermediary of the universe. Then unite yourself with the universe so that you may be blessed!”
***
MANTINGAN did not stop his samadhan when he was immersed in his memory. It is precisely in such moments, Mantingan is able to remember much better and clearer than usual. His head was fresh to be invited to reflect on the nature of human life.
If man is united with the universe, should he be transformed back into the most ancient man that can be said to be very united with nature?
But that assumption was dismissed by Mantingan. Man who unites himself with the universe will not experience such a setback, instead gaining tremendous progress in various aspects of life.
A person who is able to unite himself with nature will be able to know the measures and arrangements of ways to achieve a true balance. Once he can take advantage of nature, but not harm nature itself, then the wealth of wealth and knowledge obtained is truly incalculable.
However, Mantingan was still wondering in his mind. Is it by uniting itself to nature, it is able to open the veil of thick history about the Book of Lotus and the indigenous peoples mentioned by the two cooks at the inn that morning?
Is something that has been made by man, which is then obliterated also by man, still able to be read again through nature?
Mantingan knew that questions like this could not be answered in one thought, not in a drink of tea, not in one or two nights. Or maybe not in just one life.
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note:
This work is far from perfect. Far less than other works. Much less popular than other works. But your presence, the readers, always keeps me excited to finish what I started.
Let this work be left behind, the important thing is that I continue until it is finished.
No wind, no new year, no celebration day, only Monday night is meaningless, please thank you all who have always been faithful to give the best support for this work.
N.B. I will release bonus episodes if the number of favorites reaches 1000.
