There Are Many Voices Beside Ours

We have a lot to learn from indigenous tribes. One time I was inside the forest of Mindoro in the Philippines when I came to a peak along the path. Since it was a strenuous hike, it was but natural to take a pause and enjoy the panorama below. Apparently, this was also true for the natives. Not before long a tribesman also arrived at the peak. He was wearing a g-string, carrying a spear / walking stab. He was also a bit surprised to find me there. But he did not say a word. He simply squatted there in silence. After a short interval, another native arrived at the peak. Just like the other man, the 2nd indigenous tribesman was also just wearing a g-string. He was also a bit surprised to encounter a city fellow but did not say anything. So we all sat there in silence for a few minutes. I did not say anything because I do not know their language. They were contented with the silence. After some time, one of the men pulled out a small bamboo container holding tobacco. He rolled a cigarette using a leaf. While smoking, he was looking at his bamboo container. It was with some written text I could not decipher. They have their own language and unique alphabet. Then he gave the container to the other man who started to look at it. The second man also produced his small bamboo container with text engraved on it and gave it to the 1st man. Both were quietly reading and contemplating the texts written on each others tabacco container. There I was witnessing a deep communication in silence. Not a word was spoken. And yet I felt their deep connection with each other. Each left one after the other without exchanging a word. I later found out that those texts are the owner‘s short stories or poems that they engraved on their bamboo containers or other accessories. No need to talk or comment about it when it is shared with each other.