Rishikesh

Here is an interesting story about Bodhisatva and Charvaka. Buddha was reborn a monk. One day, he was wandering in the jungles surrounding the Anantha Pindaka Buddha Vihara. He saw that an ugly looking man was sitting under a tree, eating something. The man looked at Bodhisatva and asked him who he was. Bodhisatva introduced himself. Charvaka replied: ``Oh you are the famous monk who sits for hours in the Vihara doing nothing and begs for food!’’ I am Charvaka the famous agnostic. I am eating a chicken I stole from a farmer’s backyard. Here is the pot of ghee I stole from a shop’’. Charvaka invites Bodhisatva for lunch. And then, the two enjoy a lunch, chatting and joking. This is Bodhisatva legend and not all of them are true. But then, I was reminded of this story when US President Barak Obama wished he would dine with Mahatma Gandhi. I am sure Gandhiji would have accepted the invite if he were to be alive. He would have carried his favourite dishes; peanuts, goat milk and ground whe...