Unfinished business.

Everything we build up, achieve, hope for will eventually degrade, stop, slip away from us. Once we admit and accept this sobering fact, we might be liberated. We might even begin to enjoy our journey rather than worrying about where it may lead.

Then again, maybe not.

Image copyright 2007, Alexandra Scarborough.

Thich Nhat Hanh Facebook Updates

Monday: "Thich is washing his bowls."

Tuesday: "Thich is sitting."

Wednesday: "Thich is sooooo sleepy!"

Thursday: "Thich finds contemplation in 'Three's Company'."

Friday: "Thich is working for the weekend, but is still in the present moment."

Saturday: "Thich is solitary."

Sunday: "Thich maintains that all is suffering."

Am I a bad person?

So, given that I've had a major crush on Michael Palin since the 80s (yeah, I know he's the same age as my dad--sue me), I often watch his travel specials. They're always fun, informative and occasionally emotionally moving. Last night, I was viewing his latest, Himalaya, and he actually acquired a one-on-one sit down with His Holiness, the Dalai Lama. I was very excited, as I've always had a bit of curiosity about Buddhism (I'll be studying it next semester in Asian Philosophy), and I was expecting great things, great things.

Um, the Dalai Lama spend most of the time giggling and being incoherent.

I couldn't tell if it was nervousness, tiredness (he had just received 700 other people prior to meeting Michael), his trouble with English, or just the way he is. It made me a little uncomfortable. I guess, given my Christian upbringing (which I have abandoned for the most part, aside from the unconditional love and general ethics stuff) I expected a figurehead of a major world religion to exude a bit more of a sanguine, authoritative presence. The DL was just, well, kind of goofy.

I know from what little I've read in Buddhist literature this behavior is often true of monks and so-called authority figures in the tradition. They are childlike and embrace all of life's absurdities, which I do find refreshing. But...the DL? I don't know. Am I endowing him with too much? He is just a man, after all--but ain't Siddharta sittin' in there somewhere? Bein' stoic and wise? *Sigh.*