| One evening, after a meeting, the abbot invited me to | | | | torrent. The vast heavens again opening their |
| join him in his kuti. As I climbed the steps, I noticed the | | | | floodgates to unleash angry clouds and storms that |
| glossy handrails and the huge, gleaming floor of the | | | | drove across menacing, slate-gray skies, and with |
| veranda, both energetically polished with coconut husks | | | | crashing thunder and blinding lightening as my solitary |
| until the coconut oil buffed the wood to a deep luster. | | | | companions, I returned to my hut. |
| This was a work of love by his monks, out of respect, | | | | I felt such a profound gratefulness, an appreciation not |
| and as a soon-to-be-ordained novice monk, I would | | | | only for this abbot, but for the entire group of monks |
| become skilled at polishing the abbot’s veranda - | | | | and nuns who willingly gave up the security and |
| on my hands and knees! | | | | comforts of home and family to risk their lives in pursuit |
| The interior of his kuti was much smaller than I had | | | | of this elusive truth; this unfathomable mystery that |
| expected, with the standard two shuttered windows, | | | | held the secret to mankind’s only hope. If it |
| now open, and bare walls. His outer robe hung on a | | | | wasn’t for them, and all the other monks and nuns |
| rack. A water jug, cup, and alms bowl sat near the | | | | before them that paved the way, how would Janet |
| door, with a candle and some incense on a table | | | | and I have ever stumbled across meditation? |
| toward the back. Except for a few incidentals - a | | | | Traveling to Southeast Asia answered many |
| razor, sandals, mosquito net, umbrella, some writing | | | | questions for us; one of them being whether journeying |
| materials - this was the extent of the abbot’s | | | | to a distant or magical place to acquire our answers |
| worldly possessions. | | | | was necessary at all. And we determined that it was . |
| We entered the tiny hut to the flurry of two geckos | | | | . . and yet, it wasn’t. The wisdom of eternity rested |
| scurrying off the back wall, and as the abbot lit a | | | | nowhere but here, within us; where else could it be? It |
| candle and invited me to sit, the muffled sound of | | | | has always been right here in our hearts, but we had |
| thunder in the distance reminded me that I was in the | | | | always been too busy and full of ourselves to see it, |
| presence of a special being. He offered a cup of | | | | and because this wisdom is within us, who could teach |
| water, after which we sat in silence. I felt a profound | | | | us but ourselves? We must truly be our own teachers, |
| peacefulness in this man’s presence, and already a | | | | for no teacher can uncover this wisdom for us. But |
| deep admiration had formed, even though I had only | | | | this place . . . I don’t know, it seemed . . . magical. |
| known him for a short time. I could have silently sat | | | | Maybe the constant danger, knowing that one’s life |
| with him in this little hut forever. | | | | could be snuffed out in a moment, helped us go |
| The locusts and cicadas were beginning their evening | | | | deeper. We had always found deep concentration |
| serenade, beckoning to the pair of geckos that | | | | illusive whenever we were safe. |
| circumspectly made their way to the door to embark | | | | We inherently knew that there are those who might |
| on their nocturnal hunt. In the distance could be heard | | | | point us in the right direction, perhaps help us move out |
| the “gecko, gecko!” of their kinsmen, as soft rain | | | | of our own shadows so that this wisdom of eternity |
| began pattering on nearby leaves - the vapors of the | | | | has an opportunity to surface, but we also knew that |
| ocean falling upon the forest to begin the journey back | | | | we must eventually travel the path ourselves. And |
| to their Source. | | | | when that wisdom did surface, we knew it would |
| The abbot continued sitting quietly without speaking, | | | | forever change our destiny. We are the ones who |
| and I, out of respect, sat silently as well. This man’s | | | | must make the effort to change, and only through our |
| quiet, sincere demeanor touched me deeply, and no | | | | own efforts can we accomplish this transformation. |
| words were needed in this atmosphere of complete | | | | We had never run across many people who genuinely |
| confidence and ease. Silence is so powerful. | | | | thirsted for this cursed freedom that costs it’s |
| He presently asked how I was doing. I said fine. We | | | | seekers everything, and we were beginning to |
| talked a little about my practice, the visions I had been | | | | understand why only a handful of each generation |
| having, but then all too soon, I knew it was time to go. I | | | | attempts it, because it’s just too difficult. But once |
| stood up, put my hands together at my forehead and | | | | you’re cursed, you’re cursed, and there is no |
| bowed, feeling an overwhelming respect and | | | | going back. Your “bridges of security” have all |
| appreciation for this gentle being of few words who | | | | been burned. |
| accepted me so unconditionally, and who had given up | | | | The experiences we were having in Thailand already |
| everything to dedicate his entire life to helping others | | | | confirmed that we didn’t know anything of value, |
| find their way out of confusion. | | | | and a few days later, some things happened that we |
| The rain that had begun as barely a trickle was now a | | | | probably would have been satisfied never knowing. |