"Bummer," said the woman next to me. As I poured water on the broken tea bag, we watched the leaves float up gracefully. It was the end of a silent retreat and it was the first thing anyone had said to me in days.
And it was the funniest, most brilliant statement I had ever heard.
BUMMER
As we shared a gentle laugh, my brain imploded, and what I truly wanted to do was jump for joy and fall to the floor in giggles.
What kind of perfect sense/nonsense was this, stumbled upon like Banzan's koan?
(Banzan was walking though a market and overheard a customer say, "Give me the best piece of meat you have."
"Everything in my shop is the best," replied the butcher. "You cannot find any piece of meat that is not the best." At these words Banzan was enlightened.)And as I write on this All Saints Day eve, the sky is dark with clouds; leaves dive, float, and finally rest, enhancing the earth in fiery color.
Alight with joy, it's about to rain and the tea bag broke.
Such is the season of transition—and there has been plenty of it lately for all of us everywhere. Have not always been able to endure, float, and land with ease and grace, but this little pumpkin head knows in this moment—all is—and will always be ok, even perfect.
love
!bummer! (any word will do)
amen
metta
gratitude
A monk asked Master Haryo, "What is the way?"
Haryo said, "An open-eyed man falling into the well."
