I just like people. These four simple words were the final part of the most beautiful life changing event in my life. I was forty years old, finding a new way to be after the death of my father, the separation from my wife, and sent to India to make a pilgrimage by my loving and caring teacher, Sayadaw Rewata Dhamma. Just by chance I had arrived in Budh Gaya for the first time on my fortieth birthday. What a gift from the universe! Not really knowing what to do, I decided to stay for seven weeks as the Buddha had done after his enlightenment, and began my daily programme of meditation, kora and visiting each of the many temples in turn and bowing three times before each of the Buddha statues. I wore the white kurta and pajama in the simple Indian style and was called by the local people, Yatra, meaning pilgrim. It was also well known that when I returned to England I would ordain once more with my teacher. In fact, the Maha Bodhi society had offered to ordain me under the Bodhi tree. It was tempting, but I declined. During my time in Budh Gaya I also became known as a Vipassana teacher and people approached me asking me to share what I knew about this life saving and life enhancing practice that had taken Gautama to complete liberation. Supported and encouraged by Sayadaw U Nyaneindagan, the abbot of he Burmese Vihar and friend of my teacher, I began holding introductory classes in the Dhamma Hall there. The groups were small, but I was happy then as now to share Dhamma with any who truly want to hear. One of the students in these early days was a young German woman named Maria. We became friends and she, perhaps without realizing it, became the catalyst for my life as it is now. One afternoon we were sitting together in the famous Cafe Om, discussing many things when, as part of the conversation, I said the four words that changed the direction of my life. .........I just like people, I said in reference to a comment from her. She suddenly became serious, gabbed my arm and said, Michael, you must come with me, and marched me to what was then the smartest place in Budh Gaya, the Ashok Hotel and ordered tea and cucumber sandwiches for both of us. This was all very nice, but I felt a sense of foreboding. I waited, and then she spoke. Michael, we are friends and so I speak in an honest way to you. You must not become a monk again. These words were like a knife in my heart. My plans were made, my new life was clear. Why did she say that? Because she began, you are able to share this teaching in a way that is accessible for others, Buddhist or not. If you become a monk, only people interested in Buddhism will come to hear you, and so your voice will be lost to the others. None of your students here are Buddhist, and yet we all hold onto your words. I tell you now as your friend, you must not become a monk again. She was right of course, and ultimately I saw the wisdom of her argument, but it was not easy for me to let go of my plan. Buddhism in the Theravada style, had been such a great gift in my life. A support for my practice and a structure for my day to day life and my way to be. But now it was time to put it down and be no-one and no-thing. The Buddha was not Buddhist and he was my hero, and so I committed myself to sharing Dhamma so that all beings could benefit from hearing and then applying the teachings of liberation, which ultimately of course, are not Buddhist. Buddhism is a religion that exists in the world. It is cultural and traditional, and can be found in most Asian countries. Buddha Dhamma is the teachings of an enlightened being that are shared and freely offered to disciples everywhere in the world to help them realise their own awakening. The difference between the two is enormous! For six weeks I struggled with this dilemma, to be a monk or not, but in a moment of clarity in whilst drinking a cup of coffee with a friend in Varanasi all doubts fell away and my next life began. Ah, but that is another story........ May all beings be happy.
Posted on: Fri, 22 Nov 2013 07:34:36 +0000