Unexpected Freedom

Unexpected Freedomwithout exception. I am not doing this because it is ‘a part ofour religion’. To make this gesture at the end of the daylightens the burden of self-centredness.Ancient PracticesOur Asian teachers may not have explicitly taught the necessityof cultivating an attitude of devotion, but they certainlydemonstrated it themselves. There are a number of instances Ican remember when I saw certain gestures that really cut rightthrough any doubts or confusion I may have had about theoverall attitude I should be keeping in my day-to-day practice.When I was a new monk and visiting Wat Pah Bahn Tard,which is the monastery of Ajahn Mahaboowa – renowned asone of the most ferocious and mighty masters of the presentTheravada Buddhist Forest tradition – I was waiting in theeating hall in the early morning, before we all went out onalms round together, when the Venerable Ajahn came in. Iexpected that he would probably start snapping orders to themonks, and then rush off on pindapat – he had a reputationfor being very gruff and very fast. But what did he do? As hequietly entered the hall, the first thing he did was humblykneel before the shrine and bow with the most graciousprostrations that one would ever wish to see.This uninhibited expression of his devotion was a naturalpart of his disposition. He had grown up with thatsensibility, as Ajahn Chah, Ajahn Tate and other eminentmonks had. The same is true in Burma. At the monasteriesof the various well-known and Venerable Sayadaws, you willsee numerous well-kept shrines with monks, nuns and laityalike offering respect by way of candles, flowers and incense.Before and after sitting meditation they always mindfullybow three times in devotion to the Buddha, their teacher to138