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September 25, 2007
I had an interesting experience a while back. I was waiting in my car and sketching in my journal to pass the time. I was drawing a bicycle that was leaning against the wall opposite my open car window.
An Asian man, who was passing, by suddenly stopped and came up to the window.
“You artees?” he said.
“I try,” I replied.
He looked into the window at my sketchbook.
“Ya. You atees. I see that,” He said, pointing at the sketch.
I nodded back.
“You draw me?” he asked.
“You?” I replied.
“Ya. Ya. You draw me.”
Before I could reply he went and stood against the wall in a stoic pose.
He did not move a muscle. He just stood in place.
About eight minutes later, I lifted my finger to indicate that I was done.
He raised his hand and said, “Tank you,” and walked away.
He did not even come over the see what I had drawn. I was amazed. He simply disappeared.
It reminded of a group if Buddhist monks I read about who spent five days creating an elaborate art masterpiece on a sidewalk by meticulously positioning millions of grains of sand in a colorful pattern. The piece was truly magnificent.
After they were done the monks said a small prayer and walked away from the work without even glancing back at what they had done, leaving the wind and rain to wash the art away.
Apparently the process serves as a way for the Buddhists to meditate, spread blessings and show the “temporary” nature of things in this world, even the beautiful ones.
This entry in my journal always reminds me to enjoy this magnificent life I have, instead of ignoring my blessings while searching for what I believe is something better.
It’s not.
“These” are the good old days.
Posted by trevor at September 25, 2007 04:11 PM