Green means go.

Pemba woke to the cool morning air with a feeling of comfortableness. The decision to let go of Gedhun felt natural, like the right thing to do. His son would receive and education with the monks and perhaps break the familial cycle of living and working at their mountain homestead. It would be a first. Who knows what it would lead to. 

At breakfast Pemba shared the news, and it was news, with the rest of the family. Jampa was pleased and agreed it was the right decision. Sonam tried hard not to weep. Her baby would be going away, far away, with strangers no less. The brothers, Norbu and Karma, were a bit jealous, although they said nothing. Gedhun was naturally a bit scared, a bit anxious, and excited too. 

Over the next few weeks life went on in a somewhat unusual way at the family’s hillside home in Tibet. Sure, there was the usual harvesting of radish, turnips, carrots, daikon, potatoes and onions this time of year. But the construction of a new pen and stack of straw  for the water buffalo, which were to arrive in a few days time, kept the boys very busy during the day. At night, Gedhun and his brothers would read and draw under the light of Jampa’s fancy new candles, the ones he’d gotten from the market. They seemed to work just fine. 

Sonam spent the evenings packing up all of Gedhun’s clothes, getting them ready for his departure. The 3 weeks flew by. In the morning Gedhun would travel back to the market with his father and grandfather, and be handed off to the monks who would educate and care for him. Sonam did not sleep a wink. She tried some Chrysanthemum tea but it didn’t help. By the time everyone else got up that morning she had gathered the day’s water and had breakfast prepared. 

Once everyone had finished eating Gedhun asked the entire family to sit in a circle. There was something he wanted to do before he left. He asked if he could lead the family in the recitation of a mantra, The Green Tara Mantra – Om Tare Tuttare Ture Soha. Everyone obliged. Sonam’s eyes welled up as the entire family began to chant. Not because she was saying goodbye to her 6 year old son for 9 months, but because there he was, leading the family in a mantra. A mantra to relieve them from all sufferings. A mantra to relieve them from the 8 fears. A mantra to help overcome unpleasant situations. After 10 minutes or so the chanting stopped. Gedhun opened his eyes and smiled. He stood up and gave everyone a big hug before heading out the door. His father and grandfather followed. They were on there way to the market to meet the monks.