A good deed

I went to Matara to spend the Vesak holidays. My nephew Hasanik is now married and is the father of a daughter Hiruni and a son Lasiru. Hasanik's brother Santhush who is still a bachelor went for religious observances at Sankhapala Raja Maha Viharaya in Pallebadda. He was accompanied by his parents who wanted to observe the eight precepts there.

Hasanik and his wife Pubudi wanted to go to the Matara Bodhi premises early in the morning of Vesak Full Moon Day. After hoisting the Buddhist flag in the garden Hasanik got into the car. He was followed by Pubudi and Lasiru. They carried flowers, oil, wicks and jossticks, which were needed to pay homage to Buddha Dhamma and Sangha. Hiruni stayed back with me. She preferred to stay at home and watch me making the Vesak lantern which I promised to make for her.

I had already made the lantern out of small bamboo sticks. We had to cut and paste the tissue papers on it. We were engrossed in our work and Hiruni helped me in pasting. She was not satisfied with the lanterns that were bought from the boutique by her parents.

"To get merits, we must make them. Is it not so ?" she asked me. "Yes of course, "I replied to encourage her. "When we were young, we always made the lanterns at home. Bamboo stick lanterns were not available for sale those days, " I added.

At this moment Hasanik, Pubudi and Lasiru arrived back after offering Kiri Pindu Pooja to the Bodhi."What is this ?"I asked Lasiru.
"He brought back all the flowers and the oil without allowing us to offer them." Pubudi complained."Why? Now Budu Saadu will get angry with you Malli," Hiruni said.

"Budu Saadu, does not get angry. He has conquered evil, and he is a good person." I explained to Hiruni. "But Malli has done a bad thing." Hiruni did not give in easily. "We can offer them at the shrine room here. Otherwise, it is bad," I said, to console them.

I asked Hiruni to bring a piece of cadjan stick in order to make the candle stand of the lantern. I too went out of the house accompanying my grand niece and grand nephew in search of a stick. We were delighted to see four visitors wandering in our garden.

"Monara Ammai , Monara Thaththai, Monara Puthai, Monara Akkii," Lasiru said. Hiruni and I could not help laughing at his remarks when we watched the Peacock family searching for food in the garden. Hasanik came out of the house and said that the pea- chicks and their parents may be living in a temple closeby.

The two little pea-chicks were always close to their parents,
"See how obedient they are to their parents," Hasanik said.
"Just like us," Lasiru said.
"You,obedient ?"Hasanik asked.
He explained to Lasiru that it was not obedient of him, not to have allowed his parents to offer flowers at the Bodhi.
At this moment Lasiru ran inside and told Pubudi that he wanted to offer flowers to the Budu Saadu in the shrine room.
"Why this sudden change?" Pubudi asked.
"The peachicks are obedient. I am also going to be obedient like them," Lasiru said.
Pubudi came out to see the visitors.
"We shall give them some food" she said.
"You mean we are giving them yellow rice meant for us?'' Hiruni asked.
"Yes, why not ? It is Vesak full moon day. It is the day of donation," Pubudi explained.
We all agreed with her. Pubudi went inside and brought a bowl of yellow rice.
"I want to feed them, " Lasiru said.
“No, I want to feed, " Hiruni said.
"Both must feed them,'' Hasanik replied.
"Be careful .Don't make them go away,' 'Pubudi said.

Hiruni and Lasiru tiptoed and threw some rice at them. The peachicks happily ran towards their meal and started to eat. But the peacock and the peahen were quite cautious and were by the side of the pea-chicks.

After a few minutes they threw some more rice at them. The sister and brother watched silently, fearing the peacock family would run away.

We stayed for more than an hour standing in the garden. It was great watching them.It was the first time in my life that I came across pea-chicks. Although I had seen several peacocks and pea hens. This was a unique sight.

After a satisfied meal, the peacock family went their way towards the paddy field. Hiruni and Lasiru wanted to follow them .We also went with them to see where they were going. It was with grace they passed the abandoned orchard and entered the paddy field.