About a week ago on a Thursday afternoon, I walked out my front door and at the end of the walk, there sat a peaceful Buddha meditating in my yard. He took me completely by surprise. And a funny coincidence, we were about to go see Jai Uttal, kirtan singer, at a performance sponsored by Buddhafest in Rosslyn. When I saw him, I felt so happy to be blessed by his presence. [As an aside, I really do *not* like to use this word “blessed.” For some reason, I can feel my muscles contract when I hear the word because it feels a little too earnest, or showy, or contrived for me and I’m just not comfortable with it. However, once a friend explained that being “blessed” simply means that something happened to make your heart feel lighter, less burdened. And I like that definition. And, I cannot think of a better word to use here.]
So back to the story. No one has claimed putting him there. I took a photo of him and posted it on Facebook and asked the secret delivery-person to show him or herself. Nothing. I sort of don’t want to know really, because what an awesome gift to simply enjoy for the sheer thoughtfulness of the giving. But it has not stopped me from asking.
I’ve been contemplating this gift ever since he arrived. To me, it seems a manifestation from the ether. The universe, and someone in it, felt the desire to give this gift and nature conspired to make it so. When I sit for meditation, I usually use a mantra and when I breathe with the mantra, I do my best to feel the vibration of the mantra and let it penetrate the many layers of my awareness. This experience, over the years, has proven to me that there is a natural order of things, dharma if you like, and we are all immersed in that order. We are all players in this big soup of playing. The player, the play, and the act of playing are different experiences of the same consciousness. So as this gift has uplifted my spirits, I hope that I may help uplift others’ spirits in its wake.
In this lifetime we collect memories. The more and varied memories we make, the richer our experience becomes. Sometimes the threads of memories are good and sometimes they are challenging and painful. The fabric of life becomes intricate and detailed and filled with an aching beauty. This Buddha who decided to manifest in my yard last week has definitely contributed Grace to the fabric of experience in my world.
And I thank YOU.
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Return to Trust and The Holy Science.
Move ahead to Costa Rica Good Times.