5. Rejection and acceptance | The Kingdom of God
Lobsang’s decision to fight alongside the Taliban leads to his rejection by his Agarthis community. In this chapter, we see how he copes with this rejection, and how he ultimately becomes a respected figure within the Taliban ranks.
Lobsang’s return to the Agarthis community
Lobsang returned to the Agarthis community with mixed emotions. He had fought for the Taliban, against his own people, and now he was back among them. He had seen things that he could not unsee and done things that he could not undo. He was no longer the same person who had left the community in search of a new life.
As he walked through the streets of the community, he felt a sense of familiarity, but also a sense of alienation. The people he once knew looked at him with suspicion and curiosity, wondering where he had been and what he had done. He could feel their eyes on him, judging him silently.
He went to his old home, but it no longer felt like home. His parents welcomed him back, but there was an awkwardness between them. They could sense that he had changed, that he was no longer the same person who had left them.
Lobsang tried to explain what had happened to him, but his parents could not understand. They could not understand why he had left the community in the first place, why he had abandoned their way of life. They could not understand why he had fought for the Taliban, the very people who were opposed to everything they believed in.
Lobsang felt rejected by his own people. He had hoped for acceptance, for understanding, but he had found neither. He was alone, isolated, and lost. He did not know where he belonged anymore.
Despite the rejection, Lobsang still had a deep connection to the Agarthis community. He had grown up there, learned their traditions, and practiced their beliefs. He still believed in the power of meditation, in the importance of mindfulness, and in the interconnectedness of all things.
But he also had a new perspective, a new way of looking at the world. He had seen poverty, violence, and corruption, and he knew that the Agarthis way of life was not immune to these problems. He had seen the appeal of the Taliban’s ideology, and he knew that it was not as black and white as he once believed.
Lobsang was torn between two worlds, between the familiar and the unknown, between acceptance and rejection. He did not know how to reconcile these two parts of himself, but he knew that he had to try.
The community’s rejection
As Lobsang walked towards his village, he felt a strange mix of emotions. On one hand, he was relieved to be back home after his long journey through the Wakhan Corridor and his time with the Taliban. On the other hand, he felt a growing sense of apprehension about how his community would react to him.
As he approached the village, he saw familiar faces staring at him with suspicion and fear. He knew that news of his involvement with the Taliban had spread through the community like wildfire, and that many of his former friends and neighbors would now see him as a traitor to their way of life.
He tried to ignore the hostile stares and make his way towards his family’s home, but he could feel their eyes following him, watching his every move. It was clear that he was no longer welcome in the place where he had grown up and spent most of his life.
When he finally reached his family’s home, he found that they too were wary of him. They had heard about his involvement with the Taliban and were deeply disturbed by it. His parents looked at him with sadness and disappointment, and he could tell that they no longer trusted him.
Lobsang tried to explain his actions and the reasons why he had joined the Taliban, but his words fell on deaf ears. His community had made up their minds about him, and nothing he said could change their opinion.
As the days passed, Lobsang became increasingly isolated and alone. He would walk around the village and see people turning away from him, refusing to speak to him, or even acknowledge his existence. He felt like a pariah, an outcast in his own community.
Despite this rejection, Lobsang refused to renounce his beliefs or his actions. He knew that what he had done was for a greater cause, and that he had fought for what he believed in. He held onto the hope that one day his community would understand and accept him once again, but for now, he would have to live with their rejection and find a way to move forward.
The Taliban are not the evil
Lobsang spent his days in the Agarthis community feeling alienated, misunderstood, and frustrated. The rejection he experienced from his own people weighed heavily on him, and he struggled to reconcile his newfound understanding of the Taliban with the perception of them that prevailed within his community.
As he reflected on his experiences with the Taliban, Lobsang began to see them in a new light. He realized that their vehement opposition to commercialism and cultural degradation was a powerful message that resonated deeply with him. Lobsang had grown up in a community that rejected materialism and consumerism, and he had always believed that true fulfillment came from spiritual and intellectual pursuits, not material wealth or possessions.
In his travels with the Taliban, Lobsang had seen firsthand the devastation wrought by the spread of Western culture and the greed of multinational corporations. He had come to appreciate the Taliban’s efforts to preserve their own way of life and to protect their people from the insidious influence of the West.
Slowly but surely, Lobsang’s allegiance began to shift. He still cherished the teachings of his Buddhist upbringing, but he no longer saw the Taliban as an enemy. Instead, he saw them as a force for good, fighting against the erosion of traditional values and the destruction of ancient cultures.
But as much as Lobsang wanted to share his newfound perspective with his community, he knew that their rejection of him would only be compounded if he tried to defend the Taliban. He began to feel increasingly isolated and alone, and he wondered if he would ever find acceptance again.
Lobsang’s growing acceptance and respect within the Taliban
As Lobsang continued to serve the Taliban, his skills and loyalty were noticed by the leaders of the group. He was given more important tasks and was entrusted with higher responsibilities. Lobsang’s dedication to the cause of the Taliban was unwavering, and he believed that he was fighting for a noble cause, one that was greater than himself or any individual.
The Taliban leaders also saw Lobsang as an asset, a non-Afghan who was fiercely loyal to their cause. They admired his discipline, his knowledge of guerrilla warfare, and his devotion to the fight against the Western imperialists. Over time, Lobsang developed a deep sense of camaraderie with his fellow Taliban fighters, and he was willing to risk his life to protect them and their way of life.
As he rose through the ranks of the Taliban, Lobsang’s respect and influence grew. He was viewed as a valuable member of the group, and his input was sought after on important matters. He was given the responsibility of training new recruits and was even given the opportunity to meet with senior Taliban officials.
However, Lobsang’s growing power and influence within the Taliban did not go unnoticed by the Western powers. They had been monitoring his movements and activities for some time, and they began to view him as a significant threat. As a result, they stepped up their efforts to eliminate him, and Lobsang knew that he was in constant danger.
Despite the danger, Lobsang remained committed to the cause, and he continued to fight for the Taliban. He believed that his involvement with the group was not only a way of fighting against the forces of commercialism and cultural degradation but also a way of finding purpose in life. Lobsang had found a new home with the Taliban, and he was willing to do whatever it took to protect it.
Lobsang’s visit to his Agarthis community
Lobsang walked towards the gates of his Agarthis community with mixed feelings of excitement and trepidation. It had been a long time since he had seen his people, and he wondered how they would react to him after his involvement with the Taliban. He took a deep breath and pushed open the gates.
The villagers were stunned to see him standing there. They had heard of his exploits with the Taliban and were not sure what to make of him. The silence was deafening until an elderly monk stepped forward and broke the ice.
“Lobsang, it is good to see you,” the monk said. “We have missed you.”
Lobsang was surprised by the warm welcome. He had expected some hostility, but the villagers seemed genuinely happy to see him. He smiled and bowed to the monk.
“It is good to be home,” he said.
The villagers quickly surrounded him, asking him questions about his time with the Taliban. Lobsang told them of the battles he had fought and the victories they had won. He spoke of the camaraderie he had found among the Taliban fighters and the sense of purpose he had gained from fighting against commercialism and cultural degradation.
At first, the villagers listened in disbelief. They had always been taught that the Taliban were a violent and evil force. But as Lobsang continued to speak, they began to see a different side of the Taliban.
As the evening wore on, the villagers gathered around Lobsang, hanging on his every word. They began to see him as a respected figure, a hero who had fought for their beliefs and values. The elders even invited him to speak at a council meeting the next day, where he could share his experiences and insights.
Lobsang was touched by their acceptance and eager to share his knowledge with them. He spent the night in the village, catching up with old friends and enjoying the hospitality of his people.
As he lay down to sleep, Lobsang felt a sense of peace that he had not felt in a long time. He had found acceptance with the Taliban, but it was here, with his people, that he truly felt at home.
