We have arrived in Bodghaya. Thousands of other pilgrims, us, and then two thousand Tibetan monastics for a special gathering. Beyond words to be at the bodhi tree in the evening with such a crowd. And to make offerings and devotional gestures. Yet, even in Buddha\u2019s enlightenment place, there\u2019s the shadow side. Two of our group had their shoes stolen, I fended off a pickpocket whole we were performing our bows, and a maroon robed \u2018monk\u2019 pulled a scam. We saw him tallying up his earnings later as we passed a shop in town\u2026.<\/em><\/p>\nI was really taken with this.<\/p>\n
For me it sings into the heart of our lives. Here we are, human beings, hairless apes with a penchant for the violent and astonishingly self-serving. And, at the same time, just a little space from the angels, our own dreaming into reality wildly wonderful human possibilities.<\/p>\n
And. Tonight. Here we are, smelly, noisy, grasping, and sweet, kind, generous; even onto death.<\/p>\n
Rohatsu. The day the world awakened.<\/p>\n
For me, as I read Tom\u2019s words, I felt my heart swell with the song of humanity, the low and the high, and within it the great reconciliation. All of it one.<\/p>\n
This has not been a good year. And. You know, looking at us as we lurk in the shade of the Bodhi tree, it\u2019s not hard to see us all monkeys scrambling and squabbling.<\/p>\n
But then there\u2019s this awakening thing.<\/p>\n
With the gift of seeing, hearing, smelling, touching, tasting, and of course, the activity of our brains, letting go of the clinging that usually comes with these things opens us a passing strange joy. Itself endless stretching from before time and past all naming.<\/p>\n
Rohatsu.<\/p>\n
And, of course, of course. Always back to monkey.<\/p>\n
I particularly think of that \u201cmonk\u201d counting his ill-gotten gain.<\/p>\n
And I see a little hint of recognition. On the Zen way, an image we\u2019d not uncommonly use for wisdom.<\/p>\n
The monkey with the beggar\u2019s bowl.<\/p>\n
Me. And, of course, you.<\/p>\n
The ill-gotten gain, our life\u2019s dream.<\/p>\n
Awakening.<\/p>\n
Rohatsu.<\/p>\n
Such foolishness.<\/p>\n
Such joy.<\/p>\n
All one.<\/p>\n
And in the noticing,<\/p>\n
Such gratitude.<\/p>\n
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