Sharing the dharma

[Jundo]

When I was in Boston, a Buddhist monk came out of a crowd to put his hands on my head and whisper a blessing. He put a braclet on my wrist and gave me a picture of Guanyin and disappeared. I was stunned.

Then I became a Buddhist.

Gassho

Hensho

Satlah

What leaves me with a very good feeling about this story is that he just gave your these gifts, asked nothing and disappeared. That is lovely.

Alas, you know that there are certain kinds of conmen now, working in organizations found from Tokyo to Chicago to Paris, who do this kind of thing on unsuspecting tourists. They present a picture or some beads, but then ask money as a "donation." This is an example. The fact that there was no such demand shows that the person who gifted you these items had a good heart.

https://youtu.be/VYKyA8u60zE

What I believe instead is that he was part of a Buddhist group that offers such blessings just as their own Buddhist practice.

Gassho, Jundo

STLah

[Hensho]

Jundo,

Thanks for your explanation: I have sometimes wondered that that was all about.

It begs the question, tho: what if that had been a scam but was efficacious nonetheless? I'm thoughtful that sometimes wonderful things come from devious origin.

Gassho,
Hensho

Sat but must still lah

Sent from my LM-Q710.FGN using Tapatalk

[Jundo]

Jundo,

Thanks for your explanation: I have sometimes wondered that that was all about.

It begs the question, tho: what if that had been a scam but was efficacious nonetheless? I'm thoughtful that sometimes wonderful things come from devious origin.

Gassho,
Hensho

Sat but must still lah

Oh, yes yes yes. So many old Buddhist stories have to do with something that start off with bad intent by someone, yet it had unexpected good effects. Whatever the intent of the fellow who handed you Kannon, he certainly was a messenger for Kannon. I thought of this story ...

One evening as Zen master Shichiri Kojun was reciting sutras, a thief with a sharp sword entered, demanding either his money or his life. Shichiri told him: ‘Do not disturb me. You an find the money in that drawer.’ Then he resumed his recitation.

A little while afterwards he stopped and called: ‘Don’t take it all. I need some to pay taxes with tomorrow.’

The intruder gathered up most of the money and started to leave. ‘Thank a person when you receive a gift,’ Shichiri added. The man thanked him and made off.

A few days afterwards the fellow was caught and confessed, among others, the offence against Shichiri. When Shichiri was called as a witness he said: ‘This man is no thief, at least as far as I am concerned. I gave him the money and he thanked me for it.’

After he had finished his prison term, the men went to Shichiri and became his disciple.

Gassho, J

STLah

[Risho]

Thank you Jundo. I absolutely love zen stories like this

gassho

rish
-stlah