Min tibetanska barndom i Zorgay - Life and Culture on the Tibetan ...

ecame. Worry <strong>and</strong> fear were now added to my anger at the
pigs. I was miserable <strong>and</strong> soaking wet, <strong>and</strong> this made me cry.
"What shall I do now? I lost my family's pigs," I said to
the cow herder, when I emerged from the forest. He was sitting
by a fire under a big tree <strong>and</strong> had not gotten wet from a single
drop of water.
"Kondro, come here. Oh my! Look at you! Dry your
clothes first," said the herder, ignoring my question.
"No, I must go home <strong>and</strong> tell Father, or we'll never find
our pigs," I said, grabbing my dust stained bag, ready to start
back.
"No, Kondro. Don't worry. Your pigs surely went
straight back to your home," said the herder. "They are timid
<strong>and</strong> won't linger on the way. They won't go anywhere else."
I did not listen <strong>and</strong> ran home. Meanwhile, the rain
stopped – it had only been a shower. Before I got home, all the
pigs had returned except for one. Father was about to come to
the pasture to look for me when I arrived. As soon as he saw
me, he said, "Thank the Three Jewels! You came back. I was
worried. Let's change your clothes," <strong>and</strong> then he carried me into
our home. These simple words impressed me profoundly by
showing a father's real love for his son.
As Father was helping me change clothes I said, "Father,
I'm sorry. I didn't herd the pigs well."
Father replied, "No, dear son, it's good you returned. I
don't care about the pigs. You're everything to me. I can never
lose any of my children. I was worried you would be terribly
cold."
The other pig returned later that night. Herding pigs in
rainy weather is difficult. If the weather is good, it is fun to herd
them. I was kind to them <strong>and</strong> they were not afraid of me. When
they got tired, we rested together on the pasture. I scratched
their legs with my sharp nails when they had an itch. If I called
them, they came <strong>and</strong> lay near me so I would scratch their itches.
Their oinks expressed how comfortable they were. They
followed me everywhere I went <strong>and</strong> I felt like they were my
friends. If you talk to pigs, they will communicate with you, <strong>and</strong>
you can underst<strong>and</strong> each other. It is communication between
two hearts. Feelings can be expressed in ways other than using
words.
▪77▪