Rugged Interdependency - Amaravati Buddhist Monastery

Golden Highways Revisited: 1998curious about the monk: he was so tranquil that it made him wonder, “What isthis?” That was the moment the Dhamma had really entered his heart.He later confessed that he had had a rather naïve wish to bring a monk homewith him, thinking that he could set the monk up with a little place and be themonk’s supporter. In a way, with the visits to Bodhi Tree of the likes of BhanteGunaratana, Ven. U Sīlānanda and myself, his dream of hosting and supportingmonastics has come true – at least in sporadic bursts.Today, nearly 30 years later, he is fresh back from the Old Sod and we spendthe morning reconnecting and exchanging tales – it is sweet to be with these folksagain.Their year has been quiet, only one or two retreats with Matthew Flickstein; Iwonder how/if they were deflated by my nonacceptance of the Spiritual Directorshipthat they had offered? There was an edge to Jim’s comments that spoke of a sadnessthat they had not been doing much more than the regular sittings. He also had beenhaving major health problems – his injured leg (damaged many years before) wasfinally giving out on him – but we shall see… there was also talk of some studentsof Bhante Gunaratana buying land between Tampa and Orlando to start a residentialcenter and that bodes well for the community here.Warm afternoon: thick scent of orange blossom in the air.March 27 thFirst morning sitting, before the retreat begins – a crowd of birdsong fills the air,the chickens begin to scratch, a road roars in the distance. No words.•Swallowtails and dragonflies, thin as pine needles, dart and hover among thebushes. Clouds begin to clear. Bamboo creaks – leaves and their shadow-partnersflimmering in the brassy heat of afternoon. Blossom holds the horizontal withbarely a stir all day – Jim gives her an affectionate scratch in passing, she gruntsher love for him in short snorts and squeals. If you’re going to be reborn as a potbelliedpig, aim for the Bodhi Tree address.March 28 thA small clutch of twelve souls forms the core of the retreat – other folks come andgo each day. Bringing into consciousness the heart of kindness and the cycles ofrebirth – so easy to explain, done so many times before, but the deep-tissue mysteriesof clinging and identity ever amaze with their tenacity, guile, elasticity andsweetness. The knife keeps hitting those horny tendons and gets deflected againand again. What to do? Sharpen, persist, be patient – be ready to fail, intend tosucceed...25