Historically Sunday has been the day of rest. My Sunday experience was full of rushing from point A to point B. It was full of almost peace. I had a rendezvous with my chum Susan. We drove in a train formation to Arlington where there was a happy meditation center. From the front door you could clearly see “Jerry’s world” all dressed up for the upcoming small community event. You might have heard of it. It’s called the Superbowl. Smiling faces greeted us as we walked inside. We slipped our shoes off, all the while giggling like school girls attending our first NSYNC concert. Marshmallow colored walls framed the rather large worship room. My eye immediately was drawn to the temple shaped wood and glass case. Inside were enormous buddha figures. Some were smiling. Some looked like they had recently been reprimanded for misbehavior. They say silence can be golden, well in this case, the buddha’s were. The shine of the golden skin cast a spell on me that was so strong I could not look away. Suddenly, a small caucasian monk walked quietly in. His figure was hidden underneath long yellow and maroon robes. He bowed repeatedly, then moved up front to speak. His voice was soft, but powerful. The sound of it was calming. He spoke of love and kindness. It sounds cliche right? A buddhist monk talking about love and kindness is as predictable as a cow eating grass. Have you ever noticed an unhappy cow though? An unhappy monk? Exactly my point. The nuggets of wisdom that my mind did embrace include:
- Kindness does not expire.
- Delusion is like a disease of the mind.
- Learn your faults but do not identify with them.
- Be mindful of my potential. Be mindful of others potential.
- Look for kindness.
- Do not focus on faults, rather focus on kindness and potential.
We sat there listening intently. Unfortunately, I had to exit sooner rather than later. I whispered goodbye to my friend. I moved to the door as quietly as ants at a picnic. In the hallway, I found my shoes exactly where I left them. It took all of 2 seconds to slip them on. Outside, the sun and sky looked kind and full of potential. Once I was inside my marshmallow sized vehicular transport, the journey to work began in earnest. I navigated through the streets of Arlington purely on instinct. Eventually, the landscape became more and more familiar. It took 20 minutes for me to arrive at work. It was unfortunate that the peacefulness of the monk’s message did not stay with me longer. My mind had already slipped back into it’s normal state of agitation and anxiousness. Happiness is difficult to hold onto. I believe it was 3 hours into my shift before I felt happy. It wasn’t anything that anyone said to me. I think my disposition cheered due to singing. I find that singing at work somehow helps me to not-feel-like-a-slave. My coworkers laugh with me, not at me, but I know deep down they want to sing too. They are simply not as bold and outgoing as I am. As we say in Texas, you can warm your socks in the oven, but that doesn’t make’em biscuits. The end.
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