Dreamt of a little shit boy with a freshly shaved head, robes aged twice as old as he is and twice as large as necessary running around with a cracked wood bowl.
He was supposed to be silently begging for alms and praying for those that walked past him, regardless if they gave any or not.
He chose instead to make a pest out of himself and “play” snatch bags until the target threw money and/or food at him to make him stop.
Across the street from him, an older, more experienced monk was kneeling in the dirt with his bowl before him. Both were covered in a thick layer of dust that had been kicked up by the boy’s antics. He kept his hands pressed together before him and was calm and still while mouthing his prayers.
The boy had made such a fuss, that many people was avoiding that section of the road now, and the vendors nearby were actively warning their shoppers to stay away. The boy had no more targets to torment for alms so he went to the older monk to brag of all the trinkets and food he had gathered.
“Look, [Older Brother]! While you were being old fashioned and stupid, I have gathered enough food for us both and enough money to buy more for a week!”
As soon as the boy came within reach of the older monk, the man snatched the ill-gotten goods from the boy and flung them into the forest behind him with all his might. Food, jewelry, and currency scattered in a wide arc that was quickly followed by watching bystanders hoping to either recover their goods, or scavenge items for themselves.
“Are you starving? Are we not guaranteed one bowl of rice and broth each day? Are you in debt? Do we have goods that must be paid for? You have stolen other people’s peace of mind and are unable to even keep it for yourself, and in doing so, you are twice the thief having stolen from yourself. Now you have wasted your time and energy chasing after something you would never have been able to keep, the day is half over, and you have no preparations for tonight. You have made yourself a trap and an animal to be avoided by others. You have gained a lot this morning, true, but you have yet to begin paying for it.”
I watched this from a nearby perch, invisible to all that walked back and forth. I slipped to the ground and made my way to the older monk, passing the youth who was running back to the temple in tears. I left no footprints, and not even the wind was bothered with my passing. Realizing that I was intangible here, I gave the monk the only thing I could offer him.
I knelt and prayed to his gods that he be granted his due.
I pressed my head to the ground to end my prayer and hoped it wasn’t an offensive action to him. I got up and turned to leave. He said a thing that was surely directed to me as I heard it as if it were whispered in my ear. I looked back. He had not moved.
I nodded, and left the dream.