The analogy of the drum
A wealthy elder had a very good drum which would produce a wonderful sound. Every time the elder invited his guests to listen to its music, they would thoroughly enjoy dancing to the rythmic sound of this drum.
As time went by, this drum became too worn to produce the same beautiful sound, and the elder was disheartened.
When the Buddha learned about this, he told his followers:" Those bikshus who know well the cultivation of the body, precepts, mind and wisdom are like the lovely sound of the drum."
" Buddha! What do you mean by this?" Rahula was a bit perplexed.
Without saying anything at first, the Buddha clapped his hands, and then asked Rahula:" Do you hear the sound?"
" Yes, Buddha!" Rahula answered without delay.
The Buddha then discoursed:" Although the bikshus of pure practice may be the elderly, their merits are like the sound of the drum which will forever be remembered and reminisced. They will also set a standard for others to aspire to and follow as an example."
Not knowing if he had fully understood, Rahula asked:" Buddha! Do you mean to say that the body of the elderly is like the drumskin which will sooner or later disintegrate, while the spirit of the elderly bikshu is like the sound of the drum which will always be remembered for its fabulous rythm?"
On hearing this, the Buddha could not help but nod in approval.[ Our physical bodies are like the drumskin which will change over time and disintergrate like everything else that is subject to the law of impermanence. Yet, our wisdom is like the inspirational sound of the drum which will forever survive. The quality of sound made while the drumskin is still good depends on the effort made in the practice.]
