Microfiction

Rupert And The Buddha

A short conversation with converging viewpoints

The room was large, but almost empty except for some mats and a life-sized stone statue of a cross-legged Buddha at one end. The small scruffy dog bounced in, revelling in the sunlight streaming through the open windows. He raced over to the statue and sniffed.

It’s a little-known fact that dogs can, and do, communicate in surprisingly sophisticated ways with just about anything that isn’t an adult human. The dog cocked his head.

“Hey! Who are you? I’m Rupert. I’m a puppy. I’m already 8 months old.”

The statue remained impassive. “I am Siddhartha Gautama, the Buddha. I am eternal.”

“What do you like to do? I like to play. I play all the time.”

“I exist in the eternal present always. I live in the bliss of Nirvana.” said the statue.

“Do you have any friends? I have people friends. They love me. They say I’m the best dog and I make them so happy.”

The statue, being a statue, retained its stony dignity. “I have opened the path of enlightenment to the world of men and women. Millions have found truth and joy through me.”

Rupert considered this. “I can lick my balls!”

With a tone of finality, the statue responded. “You win.”

More fiction.