Rugged Interdependency - Amaravati Buddhist Monastery

Golden Highways Revisited: 1998has been a San Francisco Zen Center priest for a long time and also, more recently, astudent of Tara Tulku in the Nyingma lineage of Tibetan Buddhism; Ken is studentof Kalu Rinpoche and is a lama in the Kagyu Tibetan tradition; and I am the representativeof the Way of the Elders – Theravāda.The three of us had met in Dharamsala, at a conference with HH the Dalai Lama,and had formed a lasting and respectful friendship. It is indeed one of the greatblessings of these times, and the newness of Dharma in the West, that such mutualsupport and rich cross-fertilization can occur. We have all been interested and gladto learn from each other’s traditions and, hopefully, this nonsectarian spirit willconvey itself to those who show up for the workshop.We sit and schmooze for a few hours, my abstinence from steak and wine(and everything else but fruit juice) makes no dent in the conviviality of supper.Yvonne’s husband Bill is somewhat preoccupied by impending witness duties fora big court case in LA but he heartfully joins in our conversations.Rain rain rain – and a night in Baba Yagar’s hut.Discussions of the teacher training intensive all morning – more and more rainblows in. Some reservations about the ethos of the whole thing – we shall see whatturns up. No blame. Down to Marc Lieberman’s house in the City in the afternoon– writing writing writing, of yet another piece for Fearless Mountain.Ajahn Jumnien – that great exuberant and magical Master from Wat Tum Seuer(Tiger Cave Monastery) in Thailand is back in the US, now visiting Spirit Rock. Wego to see him to pay respects – he’s in fine fettle as usual. Infinite energy.Back to Marc’s in the afternoon – typing typing typing – done by 10:30 p.m.phew. News arrives that Bhante finally got whisked off to his home temple inStockton.Marc’s friends David Green and his wife and Cheryl are by – he walks usthough beautiful and poignant photos of Tibet and the Tibet Vision Project – thecharity that Marc has established and with which he trains Tibetan doctors, usuallyin remote regions of the country, to do eye surgery.The eye-camp in David’s photos operated on 92 patients in three days. Picturesof frightened, cataract-scarred and blind Tibetans, clutching the tiny hands of theirstill-sighted nieces and grandchildren; their faces then grotesquely patched withfresh white gauzes; then going off, gleefully seeing, two days later, waving theirarms in the air – what great and beautiful work!The team arrives from Abhayagiri and we have the whole day withAjahn Jumnien. A delight to be on the sidelines, despite having to chime infor various translations. Anagarika Michael switches roles as my driver withDavid DeYoung and we head back to San Francisco via Glen McKay’s studio – heshows us the Jefferson Airplane films for his show at MOMA – first hearing in 20years.A meditation daylong slides by at Spirit Rock – easy, peaceful, joyous. Eveningcomes – no great urges to be in contact or to create.May draws itself to an end.80