A River Sutra

A River Sutra Summary | Chapter 1 Summary

The chapter starts by introducing the narrator and explaining that he is a retiree, and a widower. When he discovered a job at a guesthouse (a form of lodgings intended for travelers and pilgrims), he took the position because he wanted to escape from the world. His colleagues thought that such a position was beneath him since he had been a senior bureaucrat before he retired.

The author describes the beauty of the setting of this guesthouse; it is located near the Narmada River, which is a holy pilgrimage site, so there is a regular stream of pilgrims passing through. The main character appreciates this location because he is on a spiritual quest of his own.

The reader is introduced to the daily life of the narrator: his day starts early with him appreciating nature, and the river, and the spirituality of the god Shiva. Once the staff arrives at work, he walks into the jungle where he describes the Vano peoples who held the Aryan invaders of India at bay for centuries. He also mentions the Muslims who live in the next range of hills.

He describes the pilgrims, and how they are very much like him - older Hindus seeking enlightenment. He is impressed at their endurance but understands that this endurance is part of the pilgrimage because it reflected what Shiva, the one who created the Narmada River from his sweat.

The narrator goes to visit a Muslim friend - Tariq Mia - but does not want to disturb the Muslim religious ceremony by arriving before it is over so he sits in front of nearby caves and peers into them; he does not enter because he is scared of snakes that might be in them. He usually does not meet anyone here but has met Jain Mendecants in the past. The remainder of the chapter discusses a meeting he did have with Jain monk. In this meeting, he finds out about some of the religious requirements of these monks: including the most important and most difficult one - non-violence, which requires that they not hurt any living thing.

The chapter ends with the main character admitting to the Jain monk that he has renounced the world. He then asks the monk to explain his religious renunciation ceremony and, when the monk is hesitant to do so, he suggests that it is his duty to enlighten those who are curious. The monk agrees to the request, and sits beside the main character to begin his story.