Skip to main content

Gift From a Buddhist Monk

A client, who is currently in Japan, emailed me her personal experience. It is such a beautiful story, I want to share it with all of you. Thank you, N.M., for giving me the permission to include it in this newsletter!


It was a long weekend, so we went to Kyoto to our favorite temples. I went to the Tenryuji temple, which is the Zen Buddhist temple, but it was so crowded-I didn't feel that peaceful.

My Buddhist monk moment came right here, in Okayama, in front of Big Camera, one of the biggest electronic stores.

Often times, I see monks doing a standing chant in random places with a bowl for donations. (They are holding it, so it must make their arm sour -- that what I think about.) There was one in front of the Big Camera.  It was so hot, and I kind of felt sorry for him since nobody was giving any money, so I gave him 1000 yen (about 10 dollars) as I was walking, without slowing down.

Then he yelled, "Stop!" And when I approached, I saw his monk hat had duct tape all over and he had the biggest smile.

He then quickly asked me when was I born. I was confused but told him, and he said that this year is going to be a great year for me. I guess it wasn't the information, but just talking to him that made me so happy. I felt really like screaming joy noises!

I went into Big Camera (where my son was doing research on video games for his classmate) so that he could meet the monk.  The monk told my son, wow you had a really crappy year last year (no kidding) and he said hang in there for 6 more months and you will have 5 great years. As he was saying this, the monk was so joyful and happy. I noticed that his kimono was full of holes, though very clean and pressed.

I was thinking for the rest of the day that I wish I had a ton of money so I can give him that money. But even one of the world's richest men, Bill Gates, needed more money from Warren Buffet to save part of the world, so my thought is flawed. This monk was incredibly happy -- one of the happiest person I have ever met in my life. He really does not need my help. In fact, he helped me! I needed his help.

I just need to wrap my mind around the fact that the "usual needs" are really social needs. I am still feeling like I need to help him with money. (Why does the world boil down to this? The currency of life for so many of us.) I got the message though. In exchange for 1000 yen, just a piece of paper in my wallet, I got sunshine in my heart and singing in my soul. Was he God? Definitely. Can I take that with me when I go?  Definitely.  So I was the one who was given the "nasake." (In Japanese, compassion for the one who should be felt sorry for.) I am hoping to live for slightly longer because Life is actually fun now.
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Home-Coming

(This article was first published in December 2008 Metta Center email newsletter.) In a recent personal EFT session, I connected to a deep part of me that was so anguished because she couldn't find what she has been looking for on Earth. This part connected me to a felt-sense memory of sweet and total abiding love, a place where I felt like I had melted into the gentle bosom of the Universe. It was a glorious and wonderful feeling. My conscious and adult self recognized it as Home to me, even though this was not how my childhood home felt. Somehow, I remembered that this is the blissful place I came from, and I realized that this is where I go to when I find my alignment with Source. But strangely to me, it seemed that this deep part of me wasn't aware that I had learned to find my way Home quite often. It was as if she had not been connected to me as I grew up spiritually. This part showed me that she was tired of looking. She trusted my soul, and was expecting to find H...
Post a Comment
Read more

Conscious Communication

"If we want to be compassionate we must be conscious of the words we use. We must both speak and listen from the heart." -- Marshall B. Rosenberg Conscious communication requires us to be truly present to what is occurring. When we are unconscious, we both speak to and react to others out of habit. And in the face of what we perceive as someone's judgment and criticism, we automatically (and unconsciously) defend, withdraw or attack. To communicate consciously requires attention to two areas:     You speak from awareness of what you are observing, feeling and needing, and     Through watching and listening, you are aware of those same needs in others I learned about conscious communication through NVC (Non Violent Communication.) It is a process of learning to communicate compassionately and authentically. NVC was created by Marhall B. Rosenberg who wrote "Nonviolent Communication: A Language of Life" (available through major bookstores and a...
Post a Comment
Read more

Giving Thanks to Your Body

(This article was first published in November 2007 Metta Center email newsletter.) In Taoism and Chinese Energy medicine, there is an exercise called "Inner Smile", where you smile at your inner organs. This exercise has a very practical purpose: self-acceptance and appreciation. This simple and gentle practice is very effective in balancing your meridian system and is very nourishing to your spirit. Here is a slightly different version of this exercise: Sit or lie comfortably. Alternatively, you can even do this exercise when you are walking or in the shower. Begin by taking several deep breaths, exhaling slowly. Allow yourself to recall the time someone extend a kindness to you and you can feel a sense of appreciation gently arising from within your heart-center. Noticing this feeling of appreciation, you bring your attention and extend this feeling to various parts of your body. Starting from the top of your head, bring your attention and appreciation to...
Post a Comment
Read more