Rugged Interdependency - Amaravati Buddhist Monastery

Golden Highways Revisited: 1998itual qualities were then being talked about, reverberating in the air of Magadhaand Kosala, and for whomsoever felt an interest in them, they were close at hand.In the same way, New York City is a major power center in the American organism.By bringing even just a little influence to bear there, the ripple effect throughall those in its web of energy are touched by that – even if only to a minusculedegree. A little change there brings a great effect.But by this time the system is drained to the bottom. Plane delay… who cares…delay … take off … Denver sun and T-shirts… drained… “Oh Lord, please don’tseat me next to the young blond Mormon in the dark suit and tie,” Elder Dawkinson his lapel. “There is a God…” – the Elder (aged about 20) is in row 18 but on seatA and I’m in C. “We thank you Lord...”Mike Echols awaiting in Portland to greet.“I hope nothing is arranged for this evening.”“No, not a thing…” he gulps quietly, “but there are folks who’ll be coming forthe morning sit tomorrow.” He saw my face fall, “but I can tell them not to comeif you’d like…” I give him the best lost spaniel look I can and recount my scheduleof the last fortnight.Like a trooper he calls everyone up and then stands guard at the door at 6:20a.m. the next day – I never heard a thing, even though (being on East Coast time) Ihad been awake since 4:15. Blissfully alone and unengaged in anything more thanlooking at pictures of India and the emptiness of the mind. What a sweet and quietjoy.April 24 thJanné and Charles came by and I walked with him later on to pick up their daughterTara from her play-school. Portland is in the thick of its blossoming; we pass whitelilacs on the street and shockingly bright, fecund clusters of azalea, peonies andpink star magnolia. We meet some of Tara’s friends, including a boy called Dallasand “Jumping Bunny” Emma, then return for a meal offering at their house.It had been impossible to schedule a talk in Portland on this trip so there wassome miffedness in the air; in addition it looked as though there would not beenough time for this in June either, when it was planned for me to return. They aregood-humored people, however, and the damage is surely repairable. Ever sincemy first visit to the US in 1990 I had been coming to visit Portland and had givennumerous talks and held daylong meditations here. By now there was a substantialgroup of folks who felt close to the monastic Theravāda style of doing thingsbut since only a very few came down to do the longer retreats in California, or tostay at the Monastery, these trips to their city of rain and roses were the only timeswe met. We have become good friends but we rarely see each other.In a less crowded year I would have been able to stay for longer and have thetime with these fine people, however, with the beginning of the Rains Retreat inearly July this year all the engagements are somewhat crunched – there alwaysbeing the effort to minimize travel outside of the Monastery during that formalretreat period.53