Rude Awakenings - Forest Sangha Publications

^0 T H I R D M O O N 06many-headed manifestations, and fire-wreathed snarling Dharmaprotectors—whose side were they on? In a Vajrayana temple such discriminationis foolish: all manifestation is void and welcome. How youuse it is what counts.Things went into action as the monks arranged themselves in rowsand rolled out their grumbling monotones. The chanting was the seaon which the ailing leader rode like Neptune. He was above us on somekind of throne, his long grey hair gathered into a topknot on his head,his face quite serene as his hands turned in circles like the waves. Teacame round in huge kettles, and sacramental snacks; the monks suppedas they chanted.The Theravadan—there has to be one wet blanket at every party—politely declined. I was in one of the rows near the centre of the action;looking around I could see Nick over at the periphery, happily digginginto the sacred refreshments. Afterward, as we were making our wayback to the vihara, Nick told me what he had gleaned from the laypeople.The elderly sage was Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, a very high lama,senior of a lineage; he was very ill, and the ceremony was about prayingfor his health. It was also about bestowing a blessing on the world;the great mounds of fruit and packages of food and tea were beingoffered to ensure a prosperous new year.We had our own plans: to see the new year in at the Maha Bodhi Temple.It was a full moon, which meant an all-night meditation vigil andanother confrontation with the hosts of Mara. Perhaps all this benevolencewould have put the host in a good mood. And tonight we wouldalso have the added inspiration of being joined by Sister Thanissara fromAmaravati and her companion Nada.They’d come across me that morning as I was meditating in thegrounds of the temple after my alms round. Funny how with your eyesclosed you can detect someone in front of you. They were regardingme with the gaze that develops in India—unwavering yet dispassionate.Then they bowed. When you’re travelling, you pore over even the2 8 2