Always Had It, Always Will
by Alan Cohen
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 Not this crude leather; luminous beings are we!
– Yoda
What would you do if someone swore that you knew the secret of life and put you on a stage to tell it? The Totally Hidden Video television show set up a hysterical prank on precisely this theme. For the gag, a Federal Express driver was asked to deliver a package to a religious temple (fabricated by the television show). Unknown to the driver, the pranksters had taken a photo of him and replicated it as a painted portrait, depicting the young man dressed in the royal regalia of the fictitious sect.
When the delivery man arrived, the disciples (actors hired by the program) took one look at him and began buzzing excitedly.
They ushered him to the front of the sanctuary and invited him to sit on a plush cushion of honor. Then they revealed to him that he was the chosen one, the long-awaited prophet foretold in their scriptures. To allay any doubts, a servant parted the altar curtain where, lo and behold, hung the majestic portrait of the deliverer, "painted by a visionary centuries ago."
"Please," begged a disciple, "give us some words of wisdom."
The driver surveyed the portrait and looked over the throng of expectant devotees. A hush fell over the assembly. He sat down on the pillow, took a deep breath, and spoke: "Life," the sage explained, "is like a river."
The disciples "oohed" and "aahed" on the heels of his utterance, hanging fervently on every sacred word.
"Sometimes life flows easily, and sometimes you encounter rocks and rapids," the guru illustrated, "but if you hang in there and have faith, you will arrive at the ocean of your dreams."
Again the students swooned with ecstasy. More "oohs" and "aahs." This was indeed the day they had been waiting for!
"Well, that’s about it," Swami Fedex curtly concluded, "I have to go now and make some more deliveries."
Reluctantly the devotees rose, bowed reverently, and sheepishly cleared the way for the anointed one. Amid profuse veneration he made his way to the door.
Now here is the amazing postscript to the story: the program played the same trick on several Fedex drivers, each of whom found profound words the moment he sat on the cushion. The invitation to wax profound brought forth the inner wisdom in these unassuming fellows. Deep within our heart, each of us knows the truth. The answers we seek, the power we strive for, and the acknowledgement we attempt to gain, abide inside us. Given the opportunity (being placed on the cushion) or the challenge (being pushed against a wall) we know what we need to know, to do what we need to do.
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Always Had It, Always Will
Imagine this prank were played on you – what would your deepest words of wisdom be? When receiving the honor that the drivers received, how do we also keep their awareness that deliveries have to be made, and avoid getting trapped by the attention we get? Can you share a personal story of a time when you were expected to share your deepest wisdom, and what arose in response? |
| Conrad P. Pritscher wrote: My first impression is that it is a prank or something like candid camera. Going along with the prank I would say something like: "Deep within your heart, each of us knows the truth. … |
| Conrad P. Pritscher wrote: My first impression is that it is a prank or something like candid camera. Going along with the prank I would say something like: "Deep within your heart, each of us knows the truth. … |
| navin sata wrote: This Reminded me old "song answer is my dear blowing in the Wind, all we are is dust in the wind". sea ask river how long will you keep coming to my salty water river replied I will ke… |
| david doane wrote: The words of wisdom that mean very much to me are that we are all one. We are each different expressions of Being, of one Source, but we are not separate, we are one. That we be kind… |
| LM wrote: With the internal (and external) disturbances I have been going through these past few weeks, I was thinking I would have nothing to say when I read this week’s passage. All of a sudden, a couple … |
| Narendra wrote: Imagine this prank were played on you – what would your deepest words of wisdom be? ‘Don’t be intimidated by your mind and emotions’. Implement love as a way of life with coura… |
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Back in 1997, one person started sending this simple “meditation reminder” to a few friends. Soon after, “Wednesdays” started, ServiceSpace blossomed, and the humble experiments of service took a life of its own. If you’d like to start a Wednesday style meditation gathering in your area, we’d be happy to help you get started.
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Finally, I settled on some Thai food, from a buffet-type place. When I sat down, I noticed a man walk by and sit down a few tables away from me. He had a small dish of yogurt, which he ate quickly, scraping the sides of the dish to get it all out. There was not much of a trace of it when he was done. As my eyes met his, I saw a sad, lonely man with dirty, disheveled hair. He had dirt on his coat and pants, obviously from sleeping outside. I was pretty sure he was homeless.
As I walked away, I hoped with all of my heart that my last smile card had brought a smile to this worn down man’s face. I hoped that, one day in his future, he would also have the opportunity to pass the card on. I guess I was meant to meet this hungry soul today and I felt blessed to have been able to help him in some small way.
Dalai Lama Foundation Study Circle Montreal 