Early Morning Fretting

Very, very early tomorrow I’ll be climbing on a plane to Southern California where I’ll be doing a workshop on Zen & Unitarian Universalism and then preaching at the First Unitarian Universalist Church of San Diego. Perhaps signficantly, the sermon topic will be doubt as a spiritual practice.

With my back being wonky for something over two months now, I’ve actually been looking forward to what should be a delightful experience with some dread. I’ve been thinking this trip will suggest how difficult it’s going to be for me to carry luggage and to not easily lay down to take pressure off my spine. I believe I’ve mentioned before I’ve been deviled with a triple threat: degenerative disc disease, massive arthritis up and down my spine and I’ve had one significant disc herniation. All aggravated, of course, by being overweight. And for the last several months my back has been particularly fragile. With a pilgrimage to India as the highlight of my sabbatical, how hard this solo traveling with luggage is going to be, is very important. And so this little trip might be very revealing…

Laying awake since quite early this morning I’ve begun to think first whether I should go to India, at all. But, at least in part, thanks to the fact I’ve a paid non-refundable round trip ticket on an airline that doesn’t offer alternative trips that are very interesting to me; and as this is almost certainly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, I’ve been thinking mostly how I might revision this trip. Currently the plan is to visit the tribal Unitarians of the Khasi Hills and then to visit the four major sites of the Buddha’s life. I’m beginning to feel I need to scale back my plans, to do less traveling, like staying put in maybe two places such as Delhi and Bodhgaya – and simply take day trips from those locations. It means missing a lot. At this moment I’m not sure what to do.

If you’re reading this and have a suggestion or two, I’d sure like to hear it.

Otherwise, I’ll keep you all in the loop, as experiences and plans unveil themselves.

Today is Thursday and therefore my major focus is the lecture. In this class we’ll be exploring how Zen came to North America. A rich and interesting migration…