For a Season, a Reason and a Lifetime.
When I was fortunate enough to have an audience with Bhante Uttamo he mentioned that we had enough good karma for us to finally meet that day. Come to think of it, I agree with him. I wanted to see him ever since I moved back here, and last month was the first time it happened.
I guess somewhere along the way, I must've done something good that I met some interesting people. As with any thing in this life, I know each relationship will end sooner or later. The question is how will it end. Some people were there for a brief moment in my life just enough to teach me something (eventho at times, when something bad happened I had trouble seeing it as a teachable moment), some people lingered for a bit longer, and I can feel some will be there for a long time in my life.
Some were there supporting me during my bad patches, and I thank them for it. Some were there sharing my good times, and I thank them for it, for not all people are happy for us when we have good fortune. Honestly, sometimes when someone had difficulty accepting my good fortune, while the same person had no trouble hanging out with me during my rough period, I wonder if that person is a real friend. I know some wise person said that a friend in need is a friend indeed. However, I found that for some, it's easier for them to be around someone less fortunate than them because it makes them feel better, than to be around someone more fortunate than them because it makes them feel worse about themselves. Around losers you feel like a prince.
I am not always be a good friend, sometimes I get caught up in my own little world and forgetting to keep in touch. Depending on the person, sometimes I let them be during their rough patches and just observing from a far in case they want to communicate. With others I try being present through out their ordeal, eventho it means only via internet. All I can do is to give to the best of my limited ability at that time. Perhaps my way is not good enough for them, but it's ok, each has their own needs. And if in order to fulfill that need from other person we grew apart, it's just life.
When that happen, just remember this: What ever I've given you, I gave it with love and you can keep it. What ever you've given me, I will treasure it.
2 comments:
From what I knew Buddhism stands out in the company of monotheistic religions as a gentle, meek and peaceful spiritual system. What you write about what the exercises did to you, seems to confirms that. On the other hand I guess taking part in this specific kind of meditation probably is being frowned upon by those dominant world religions. So I wonder though what made you want to go to Blitar though. And why this particular man.
I'm afraid I've to admit I lack real talent for any spiritual part of life (I'm stopped in my tracks the moment I reach platitudes like: 'our mission in life is muddling through while exaggerating the passing on of life'). I never got nearer to Buddhism than when way back I read and thought I could understand Robert Pirsig and his son Chris' odyssey in "Zen or the art of motorcycle maintenance" .
I loved the book and left it there. Muddling on...
Why I want to go to Blitar? I want to learn walking meditation from him. Why him? Because I like the way he explains things, both in philosophical & technical aspect of meditation. The problem is, I dont have time to go to his 10 days courses, plus I dont think I could survive meditating for 15 hours daily while at his temple tho.
I heard about that book before, it seems like a very manly book. My approach is very practical: I try it and it works for me, so I stick with it. I'm not really into reading philosophical books to find 'the meaning of life'. I read them just to know what's the fuss that this person or that person said.
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